Australian cricket is offering cricket fans a chance to do their bit to help bushfire victims by supporting an appeal that will run throughout the Channel 9 telecast of Tuesday’s Commonwealth Bank Series match at the Adelaide Oval between Australia and New Zealand.
Cricket Australia (CA) Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said fans wanting to help can make a donation to a special Commonwealth Bank Series Bushfire Appeal fund by visiting a Commonwealth Bank branch or heading to www.cricket.com.au/bushfireappeal, and donating into the Commonwealth Bank appeal account (BSB 06 2000, Account 1207 5700).
“The tragic news on Saturday and Sunday shocked us all and Australian players at the Sydney game were keen to see what cricket could do to help,” he said.
“Cricket is a part of the community in all the regions affected and those regions have produced fine club, state and international players.
“At the end of the day, this is a national tragedy and we just want to do something to help.”
Following urgent CA, Commonwealth Bank and Channel 9 talks on Sunday, the Commonwealth Bank Series Adelaide game will be used as a fund raiser with all money going to the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund, a fund set-up by the Victorian Government, in partnership with the Australian Government and the Red Cross, to support communities affected by the fires.
The Channel 9 telecast will publicise the Commonwealth Bank account the public can use throughout tomorrow’s game.
Additionally, the Commonwealth Bank has donated $1,000,000; Cricket Australia has donated $100,000; and the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) has donated $25,000.
In addition to its $1 Million donation, the Commonwealth Bank has agreed to donate an additional $100 for every run scored and $5,000 for six hit during the Adelaide game.
After consultation with the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA), the SACA, Ticketek and the ACA have agreed that all ticket revenue from tickets sold to the game from today on, including the normal share that goes to player payments, will be donated to the Appeal.
The SACA will also have volunteers at the Adelaide Oval rattling tins for the Appeal, urging Adelaide cricket fans to donate their spare change.
Cricket Australia partners Gatorade and Sanitarium will be donating food and drink products to communities and fire fighting services affected by the bushfires.
Commonwealth Bank Series Bushfire Appeal donation account (open from today):
BSB 06 2000
All donations over $2 are tax deductible
For more information see www.cricket.com.au/bushfireappeal
