Cricket Club

Fire + Rescue Cricket Club

Fire & Rescue XI (FRNSW XI)

Cricket was the most popular of the numerous sports in which fire brigade teams participated after the First World War. The NSW Cricket Team has a proud and long-standing history with over a century of recorded matches. One of the earliest recorded matches was on May 9th 1919, between teams representing the NSW Metropolitan Fire Brigade and the NSW Police. The game was played on Rushcutter’s Bay Oval and resulted in a win for the NSW Fire Brigades by an innings and 122 runs.  In 1921 a NSW Fire Brigade team visited Melbourne, Victoria. Managed by Divisional Officer J.M. Lambourne, the NSW Fire Brigade XI wrestled the Fireman’s ‘Ashes’ from the Victorian team which included an interstate representative cricketer, Nick Winter, who was to achieve even greater sporting recognition when he won the Gold Medal for the hop step and jump at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
In recent times the FRNSW XI Cricket Team has had a revamp as it looks to a new future in the modern age while honouring the team’s proud history. This has seen the FRNSW XI play at the Sydney Cricket Ground, North Sydney Oval and Bradman Oval (Bowral) in various events and charity galas. In 2024 the FRNSW XI Cricket Team became a member of the Sydney City & Suburban (C&S) Cricket Association which opened up fixtures for the team across the cricketing season and opportunities to play on Sydney’s best turf wickets. Highlights for the 2024/25 season include a game vs. the NSW Police XI Reg Bartley Oval , Rushcutters may (105 years since the first recorded match), a  Defence and Emergency Services Charity Day to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute and a game at the exclusive Victoria Barracks, Paddington vs. The Victoria Barracks XI .

If you’re a keen cricketer and would like to be involved in future games, please reach out to Senior Firefighter David Ince at david.ince@fire.nsw.gov.au or Inspector Cameron Wheatley at cameron.wheatley@fire.nsw.gov.au.