Crusaders Cricket Australia

Crusaders Australia is a wandering cricket team founded by Robert 'Swan' Richards, David Richards and Ray Steele in 1977 who undertake annual tours around to help facilitate the development of promising Australian cricketers. They have been represented since by more than 2500 players, in more than 1500 games on numerous tours to England and Europe. Current players to have come through the Crusaders system include Clinton McKay, Rob Quiney and Aiden Blizzard with players of the standing of Shane Warne, Paul Reiffel, and Matthew Elliott also having graduated from the Crusaders. The Crusaders have played matches in Hong Kong Singapore, France, Austria, Slovenia and Belgium in recent years. They have also played against prestigious teams in the UK including Marylebone Cricket Club and Welsh side Carmel & District Cricket Club. The Crusaders are now recognised as both international and national ambassadors for cricket. The emblem of the Crusaders has great significance. The background of navy blue potrays the past, the sky blue represents the present, and the gold the future. The stars represent each State of Australia, and the bird (a Martlet) is believed to have been in existance at the time of the Crusades in the 10th century. The Oxford dictionary quotes 'Crusade' as a 'cause' and charecterises the name 'Crusaders'