Putting Pacific cricket on the path to international success

In a small coastal village just outside Port Moresby, cricket is more than a sport – it’s the heartbeat of the community. In recent years, the tiny town of Hanuabada has produced the lion’s share of players for the women’s national team, the Lewas, and the men’s team, the Barras. During a 2023 trip to Papua New Guinea (PNG), Australia’s First Nations Ambassador, Justin Mohamed, had the opportunity to witness the town’s passion for cricket, firsthand.

“We know how important [cricket] is, not only for the younger people in the community, but also the older people, like myself, who watch and stay connected with it,” he said, speaking to young players in Hanuabada. “You are the role models here in the community…you are an inspiration.”

Twelve months on from the Ambassador’s visit, Pacific cricket is set for its next big leap forward with the announcement that the Australian Government has renewed its partnership with Cricket Australia, through PacificAus Sports.

“Cricket is part of Australia’s cultural fabric and is built on dedication, mateship and respect, much like our relationship with the Pacific,” said the Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific. “It’s great to see the continued growth of the sport throughout the region …[and] we look forward to more Pacific teams competing on the world stage."

Backed by more than $1.5 million in funding over three years, the program will nurture the next generation of Pacific cricketers, offering pathways for elite-level training and competition, both locally and in Australia.

Match fit and ready to go

Under the previous partnership, which ran from 2022 to 2024, young cricketers from cricket-loving Pacific nations including Vanuatu, PNG and Samoa had the chance to sharpen their skills, learn from living legends of the game, and compete in international fixtures. The renewed partnership promises even more opportunities for players to access world-class coaching and competition.

Henao Thomas, a Hanuabada villager who has represented her country since 2019 and currently plays for the Brisbane Heat in the Australian Women’s Big Bash League, is eager to get started.

“We are really excited to learn that the PacificAus Sports partnership with Cricket Australia is continuing,” she says. “The partnership has provided opportunities that we can only dream of in PNG and I want to learn as much as I can from these experiences to keep improving our game and make the next ICC Women's T20 World Cup."

Beyond the scoreboard

PNG is seen as a rising star of the international game, with the Lewas ranked 16th in women’s One Day Internationals and 11th in T20s, and the Barras edging into 20th position on the men’s T20 rankings.

In June 2025, as part of the nation’s celebration of fifty years of independence, PNG will host the inaugural Cricket Invitational, a cornerstone of the renewed partnership. This annual tournament will bring together Pacific teams and Australian First Nations sides, showcasing top-tier cricketing talent and reinforcing cultural connections.

“When cricket brings First Nations and Pasifika people together, it is about more than sporting competition,” says Ambassador Mohamed. “It’s about cultural connection and the strengthening of a bond that has existed for tens of thousands of years.”

Pacific cricket’s next chapter

The popularity of Pacific cricket is growing. National events like the 2024 T20 Smash in PNG—featuring Australian stars Ellie Johnston, Ruth Johnston, and Rhiann O’Donnell alongside Lewas captain Brenda Toi Hau and vice-captain Sibona Jimmy—highlight the sport’s rising profile. And international tournaments like the women’s T20 Pacific Cup, which in 2024 saw PNG, Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Cook Islands compete against a New Zealand Maori team, are fostering a healthy sense of regional cricketing rivalry.

Over the next three years, the renewed program will build on this momentum, harnessing the innate strengths of Pacific cricketers and providing abundant opportunities for them to showcase their talents to the world.