Fr Bijoy Joseph to lead new churches cricket team in Sydney

Fr. Bijoy Joseph will captain a new Sri Lankan and Indian Churches cricket team in a short-form competition launching in Sydney this summer. The priest, who has Syro-Malabar heritage and previously captained the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Cricket Team, joins three other new entrants including Brothers Rugby Cricket Club and Western Sydney Anglican Cricket Club. These teams join the established Catholic Cricket Club to form a four-team competition.

The season begins on 17 October and runs until the end of February, with a break for Christmas and New Year. Matches are scheduled for Saturday afternoons in Parramatta, Strathfield, Concord, and North Ryde. The competition uses a mix of T20 matches and a two-day, 40-over format, with Saturday play limited to 40 overs to ensure games finish within three hours.

Fr. Joseph said the competition offers a way to bring people together through their Christian faith and interest in cricket. He noted that during his time in Rome, cricket served as an icebreaker that helped people of different faiths connect in a friendly environment after playing.