Captains Announced for the Inaugural 2024 Australian Universities T20 Cricket Tour

The Australian Universities T20 Cricket team is in its final stages of preparation for the inaugural cricket tour to India as they are set to depart on Monday 25 November.

UniSport Australia Chief Executive Officer Mark Sinderberry is thrilled about the new relationship and inaugural tour.

“This tour is a landmark event and the start of an exciting new partnership between UniSport Australia and the Association of Indian Universities.

“Together we are not only fostering international sporting but also creating valuable opportunities for cultural exchange and collaboration between our countries. We look forward to a memorable and competitive tour, and to building lasting ties that benefit our universities and students for years to come.”

The leadership team for the upcoming India T20 Cricket Tour has been named, with Macquarie University’s Vishwas (Kavvy) Saini to skipper the side with The University of Queensland’s James Guy as vice-captain.

Saini (left), currently completing a Bachelor of Commerce, led the Macquarie University team at the 2024 UniSport Nationals T20 Cricket Championship in July.

His extensive cricket experience and leadership will be a welcomed inclusion for the upcoming group of players.

Saini has made a strong start to the grade season with a high score of 71 and a 26.6 average, providing some middle order stability.

Not his first time playing overseas, Saini is eager at this opportunity and is confident of what the team can deliver.

“I am very excited for the upcoming tour and expecting the team to win all games. The selected squad is so balanced and talented in every aspect. The team shares great chemistry before even going overseas,” Saini stated.

James Guy, currently undertaking a Doctor of Medicine, comes in after successfully leading The University of Queensland team to win gold at the 2024 UniSport Nationals T20 Cricket Championship back in July. Guy has started the club season with a bang averaging 24 thanks to a bat-raising 57 not out.

The bowling stocks are ready to fire with an exciting pace attack spearheaded by University of Technology Sydney’s pairing of Will Straker, completing a Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation, and Charlie Howard, Bachelor of Civil and Environmental Engineering with Honours, both performing strongly in the New South Wales Premier Cricket first grade competition.

Will Straker, younger brother of former Australian under-19-star Tom Straker who made his Sheffield Shield debut earlier this year for Queensland, is out to make a name for himself.

The team is optimistic of what lays ahead despite being reduced to a 14-man squad. Now under head coach Nic Coe, they are ready to shoulder the extra responsibility and deliver results on the sub-continent.

The tour kicks off this Monday 25 November, when the squad will fly out of Sydney for Mumbai and Bhubaneshwar.

To stay up to date and follow the Australian Universities T20 Cricket team’s tour head to the UniSport Australia website (www.unisport.com.au).

About UniSport

UniSport Australia (UniSport) is the peak body for university sport in Australia, representing 42 member universities and a population of over one million students. UniSport’s mission is to become an integral partner of Australian universities by delivering outstanding student experiences through national intervarsity sports competitions. UniSport is also committed to advocating for the value of sport in enhancing the student experience.

For more information: www.unisport.com.au

Media Contact:

Damian Murphy

GM: Marketing & Communications

UniSport Australia

damian.murphy@unisport.com.au