SPORTING history will be made on Monday when cricket returns to Fremantle Oval for the first time in 60 years.

The Multi Cultural Cricket Carnival will see teams from Italy, Croatia, Britain and India face off in quick, exciting 10-over games.

The free, family friendly event will be held from noon-8pm and includes international cuisine from the Italian, Indian, Croatian and British communities.

Freo deputy mayor Fedele Camarda, who also played for South Fremantle Football Club at the Oval, will captain the Italian XI.

• Consul and head of chancery Naresh Kumar, former WACA president Brian Rakich, Indian consul general Kajari Biswas and Croatian cricket president Mate Jukic.

“I managed to rustle up a team; mostly folk from the Cockburn Cricket Club, where there’s a lot of Italian heritage,” he says. “We’re hoping this could become an annual event and grow in size; maybe attract some well-known current and former players. It’s a great grassroots event and a fun way to celebrate diversity.”

Now synonymous with SFFC (‘The Bulldogs’), the Oval was originally used for cricket for more than 80 years with the likes of Bob Simpson and Sir Donald Bradman playing and training there. The Cricket Carnival was the brainchild of Indian Consul General Ms Kajari Biswas.

The idea quickly gained traction with the Italian, Croatian, and British consuls coming onboard (the Herald just hopes the British team have their passports in order).

Camarda says cricket is slowly growing in popularity in Italy and the national team qualified for this year’s T20 World Cup, their first appearance at a cricket World Cup: “I grew up in Spearwood and a lot of us gravitated to cricket in the summertime,” he says.

But the Chook had to ask one burning question—whose favourite for the tournie?

“India,” replied Camarda.

The Multi Cultural Cricket Carnival is at Freo Oval, Parry St on Monday (March 2). 

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

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In March 1907 Western Australia hosted New South Wales in Freo Oval’s only recorded first-class cricket match—WA won by five runs.

New South Wales had three players (Warren Bardsley, Charles Macartney, and Roy Minnett) who had represented Australia in Test cricket whilst WA had one (Ernie Jones). 

After the first game of Aussie rules football was held at the Oval in 1895, the sport gained in popularity and it took a foothold there.

The Fremantle District Cricket Club played at the Oval for several decades before moving to their current home at Stevens Reserve in 1968.

Ex-WACA president Brian Rakich last played WACA A Grade Cricket on Freo Oval in 1963, and fondly recalls playing there against such cricket / footy legends as John Gerovich.