Politicians and Media Unite for Charity Cricket Match

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ClubsNSW has once again taken to the field in support of grassroots sport, joining politicians and press gallery journalists at the SCG for the annual Pollies v Press cricket match to raise funds for Cricket NSW’s Breakfast Blast program.

Now in its second year supporting the initiative, ClubsNSW announced a further $10,000 donation to help deliver the program in regional NSW.

Breakfast Blast is a free before-school program for primary school children that combines Cricket NSW’s Cricket Blast activities with a nutritious breakfast.

The match brought together Members of Parliament and press gallery journalists for a friendly but competitive game, with Minister for Sport Steve Kamper captaining the politicians’ team and The Sydney Morning Herald’s Max Maddison captaining the press.

“We were thrilled to sponsor the Pollies Vs Press cricket game at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with our $10,000 donation directly supporting the delivery of the Breakfast Blast cricket program in the NSW Northern Tablelands region,” said ClubsNSW CEO Rebecca Riant.

“Breakfast Blast is a before-school initiative which provides primary school kids with a free breakfast and teaches them cricket skills, honing their motor skills and physical development – which helps to keep them engaged at school throughout the day.”

The presence of the club industry was visible throughout the venue, with the ‘Your Local Club’ brand featured prominently around the ground, reinforcing the role of registered clubs in supporting community sport.

Cricket NSW highlighted the importance of partnerships with community organisations in extending the reach of programs like Breakfast Blast beyond metropolitan areas and into communities where they can have the greatest impact.

While the match itself was played in good spirits, the focus remained firmly on the purpose behind the event: improving access to breakfast and sport for children and strengthening the connection between education, physical activity and community support.

With politicians and the press gallery united for a common cause, the event again demonstrated how collaboration across sectors can deliver practical outcomes for communities across the state.

For ClubsNSW, the day marked another opportunity to showcase the industry’s commitment to grassroots sport and to ensuring that every child has the chance to participate, learn and thrive — both on and off the field.