Merry Xmas to our Amazing Spirit of Cricket Family from "Telf on the Shelf"!!

As this amazing year comes to a close, I want to take a moment, on behalf of the entire Spirit of Cricket Global family, to say thank you. Thank you for believing in this movement, for backing the players, the umpires, the volunteers, the storytellers, and for keeping the Spirit alive wherever this great game is played. You’ll see a bit of fun in our “Telf on the Shelf” Christmas greeting who we engage with at this time every year, but behind the smile is nothing but pride, gratitude and respect for what we’ve shared together in 2025.

What a year it’s been.

The year began in unforgettable fashion with our February tour to Sri Lanka, proudly supporting the Australian Over 50’s World Cup bid while sharing the game through a series of matches against local teams. A true highlight was the match against the Sri Lankan Army, played in the finest spirit of respect and camaraderie, followed by a memorable day at the Galle Test, where we witnessed Steve Smith and Alex Carey both score centuries. A massive thank you to Hayley's Travels Spirit of Sri Lanka for their outstanding support in making the tour possible, and to Cricket For All for standing alongside us in growing the game globally.

From managing the O55’s Tournament in Mackay in April, to the Harrow T20 Interstate Tournament in May between Victoria & South Australia, followed by our second Live Player Draft in June.

Then came a truly special moment in September with the Global Spirit of Cricket Festivale, featuring international umpire Billy Bowden, former Adelaide Oval curator Les Burdett, and the inaugural Spirit of Cricket World XI, led by former Australian cricketer Adam Dale & skipper Mark Kratzmann.

Teams from Cricket Australia the Masters Cricket USA, CCMC Canada and New Zealand competed in both over 50s and over 55s competitions with Australia taking out both. Hot on its heels was the Global Spirit of Cricket T20 Festivale, showcasing 8 incredible franchises and 120 O50s players, broadcast on Willow TV into the North American market, reaching over 50,000 views on SOC TV Global across two unforgettable weeks. To have Ambassador Michael Kasprowicz and the legendary Peter Walsh OAM behind the microphone, anchored by Pat Silcox and ably supported by Darren Cheek made it even more special. A brilliant production with eight cameras, action replays further enhancing decisions for stumpings and runouts by Todd Wardrop and the Blive team.

We rounded out the year in truly unique fashion, finishing with a game at the stunning Château Tanunda against the Primary Club of Australia, before proudly supporting England’s Barmy Army with live scoring and live streaming in the lead-up to the Adelaide Test. Moments like these remind us how deeply this game connects people across cultures, countries and generations.

Behind the scenes, we’ve also been building toward our next chapter, preparing two quality teams for the O55’s International Tournament in Cape Town, proudly led by our Ambassador Barry Richards, a true icon of the game whose presence perfectly embodies what the Spirit of Cricket stands for. Importantly, the Spirit of Cricket continues to stand for more than what happens on the field.

We are proud to continue supporting The IF Project through our great friend Clint Hoffman, a powerful initiative focused on men’s well-being and men’s mental health and we look forward to this partnership continuing long into the future. We are also excited to be rolling out the Spirit of Cricket curriculum in conjunction with the Nelson Twins, expanding our reach beyond tournaments and into communities. This work will go hand-in-hand with our local T20 Legends teams, who will play, engage, and share the Spirit of Cricket message directly with cricket clubs and schools. As we move into 2026, we look forward to deeper engagement with the ICC and other key stakeholders, ensuring this program continues to grow globally.

Most importantly, none of this happens without people. Our workers behind the scenes, the Players who still chase dreams. Officials who uphold the values. Partners who back the vision. And followers like you who continue to support, share and stand with us.

We would also like to acknowledge the tremendous effort and commitment of Jeff Charlesworth from Spot On Hose and Fittings, whose support has been invaluable to the Spirit of Cricket. Beyond his generous sponsorship, Jeff has played a pivotal role in the appointment, coordination and management of our umpiring teams across multiple tournaments, ensuring professionalism, consistency and respect for the game at every level. His passion for cricket, attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond embody everything the Spirit of Cricket stands for, and we are deeply grateful for his continued support.

We also launched our Spirit of Cricket song with this crew in late 2024 with Paul Costa.

As we head into 2026, the horizon is full of opportunity, growth and global expansion and we’re only just getting started. From my family to yours, and from all of us at Spirit of Cricket Global, Merry Christmas, stay safe, and thank you for being part of something bigger than the game. 💛🏏

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