Singh vs Smith: How South Asian cricketers are leaving behind Australian locals Down Under

People of South Asian origin are fast becoming a big force in cricket in Australia. Cricket Australia’s latest census for the 2024-25 season has revealed just how much things have changed Down Under for aspiring players who are not of European ancestry. According to a press release, Singh is the most common surname among registered players in the country, followed by Patel, Smith, Sharma, and Williams.

A record 103,232 South Asian Australians were registered to play cricket during that period, a target that Cricket Australia had set for 2027 as part of their Multicultural Action Plan. They have successfully achieved this target two years early in 2025. The plan was introduced by CA’s CEO Nick Hockley to make the game more welcoming, inclusive, and fully representative of the population in Australia.

This growth is a clear sign of how the South Asian community is dominating the game in Australia, and it is highlighted by the recent selection of players like Aryan Sharma, John James, and Yash Deshmukh in Australia’s U19 squad for their upcoming series against India U19.

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Among other examples, Jason Sangha and Niv Krishna are touring the MRF Academy in Chennai with the Australia Men’s development squad. Tanveer Sangha and Jason Sangha both played in the Australia A vs Sri Lanka A series in Darwin this year. Hasrat Gill, Samara Dulvin and Ribya Syan were in the U19 women’s squad for last year’s tri-series.

South Asian Australians are also making significant strides in elite development programs. They now represent 17 per cent of juniors in Cricket Australia’s talent pathways. Notably, in the under-12 age group participating in national talent development programs, 43 per cent of boys and 25 per cent of girls are of South Asian heritage, an extraordinary figure considering the community makes up just 6 per cent of the national population.

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South Asian girls boost female participation 

Female participation continues to rise nationally, with a 6 per cent increase overall and an 11 per cent rise in girls joining Cricket Blast. South Asian girls are playing a key role in this growth, supported by inclusive programming and the emergence of relatable role models.

Cricket Australia’s total registered participation rose to 669,642 this season, with club cricket increasing to 348,221, while School cricket competitions remained stable at 95,818.

(With agency inputs)