Cricket legend to play Cazalys

Sport

CRICKET legend Brian Lara will head to Cairns in November to join Team Cricket for the inaugural T20 Cairns Gold Clash at Cazalys Stadium.

Cricket legend Brian Lara will join Team Cricket for the inaugural T20 Cairns Gold Clash at Cazalys Stadium on 22 November. Picture: Photosport.
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Lara will line up alongside Australian cricket greats Usman Khawaja, Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey when Team Cricket takes on Team Footy on Sunday, 22 November.

The event will bring together cricket, NRL and AFL stars for a night of T20 cricket, live entertainment, fan activations and family-friendly experiences.

Team Cricket will also feature Aussie sporting icon Ash Barty, while Team Footy includes Johnathan Thurston, Sam Burgess, Dale Thomas and Joel Selwood. Further local and international sporting legends and wildcard players are yet to be announced.

Team Footy will be coached by Stephen Fleming, the newly appointed England Test coach, who created the T20 Gold Clash concept with international event promoters Duco Events after the success of the T20 Black Clash in New Zealand.

Lara holds the highest individual score in a Test innings, having made 400 not out against England in 2004. He also holds the record for the highest individual score in first-class cricket, scoring 501 not out for Warwickshire in 1994.

The ICC Hall of Famer previously played for Team Rugby at the 2024 Black Clash.

“I had such a great time playing in the Black Clash and it was a pretty easy sell to come to a beautiful place like Cairns to play for Team Cricket in the Gold Clash,” Lara said.

“I don’t know too much about Team Footy but I have seen AFL and NRL over the years and I know they are all incredible athletes.

“It’s going to be so much fun and hopefully we will have a full house come and support Team Cricket.”

David Higgins of Duco Events said Lara would be a major addition to the inaugural event.

“Everywhere Brian Lara goes, he grabs attention, and we are very excited to have him as part of the inaugural T20 Cairns Gold Clash,” Higgins said.

“Brian’s an entertainer on and off the field and was very popular when he played in the Black Clash. He transcends generations of sports fans and people just want to see him in the flesh.”

The T20 Cairns Gold Clash, in association with Hot Spring, starts at 6pm AEST on 22 November at Cazalys Stadium, with Team Footy and Team Cricket competing for the inaugural Gold Clash trophy.

Early-bird tickets start at $69* for adults and $10* for kids (*excluding transaction fees).