Cricket NSW unveiled Mirrung, a new First Nations artwork designed by five of its Indigenous players, on Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder shirts when the Weber WBBL|12 season began on October 29.
The design will become a permanent feature on the sleeve of shirts worn by every team Cricket NSW runs, including the NSW Blues, NSW Breakers, and the Sixers and Thunder across both the BBL and WBBL. It will also appear on Indigenous, inclusion and pathway team shirts.
Mirrung takes its name from the Dharug word for "belonging". It was led by Sydney Thunder and NSW Breakers player Hannah Darlington, working with fellow contracted players Charlie Anderson, Ashleigh Gardner, Anika Learoyd and Emma Manix-Geeves.
At the centre of the artwork is a brown handprint, which Cricket NSW said symbolises connection to the land, past generations and the game. Pathways extend from the handprint to represent different regions of New South Wales.
Blue meeting places throughout the design represent the journeys of everyone involved in cricket across the state, with the largest meeting place in the centre representing Cricket Central. Cricket NSW said stars scattered through the artwork honour the ancestors who cared for the land before.
Darlington said the project let her draw together the experiences of First Nations players with the land on which they play.
"I am honoured to bring together the stories of our First Nations players, their journeys and the land on which we play cricket across NSW through the Mirrung artwork," she said.
"For me, it was all about representing belonging, so that players across all our teams could feel that connection to Country, First Nations communities across NSW and the game itself."
She said seeing the design worn across every Cricket NSW team carried particular meaning.
"I'm proud that this will be worn by all Cricket NSW teams going forward, a sign that we are truly embracing reconciliation each time we take the field," Darlington said.
Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon said the motif reflected players driving the organisation's reconciliation work.
"Mirrung is a wonderful example of our players leading by example in Cricket NSW's ongoing journey towards reconciliation and healing with First Nations peoples," Germon said.
"This striking artwork beautifully encapsulates the connection between First Nations cultures, the land on which we play cricket and our shared journeys through the game."
Germon thanked the players involved and singled out Darlington's role in bringing the design together.
"We are proud of and thankful for our First Nations players, whose stories have informed the motif's design, and congratulate Hannah on bringing this together so powerfully," he said.
Cricket NSW said the motif's adoption followed consultation between its First Nations players, its First Nations Advisory Committee and the organisation's leadership. The committee represents Indigenous communities from across New South Wales.
The design sits alongside other Cricket NSW initiatives it says support reconciliation, including backing for Indigenous teams and First Nations programs, Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country at matches, and barefoot circles. Cricket NSW described the permanent sleeve motif as part of its commitments under its Reconciliation Action Plan.
Mirrung will next be seen as the Sixers and Thunder continue their Weber WBBL|12 campaigns, which run through to December 5.