The Adelaide based Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy is targeting young Indian cricketers with a proposal to establish a centre of excellence in India.

Minister for Investment and Trade Martin Hamilton-Smith who is leading the State Government’s largest trade delegation to Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai, welcomed the proposal.

“South Australia has many common links with India – our history, our democratic principles, the English language and a passionate love of cricket,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.

“The Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy is one of many South Australian businesses which have used the trade mission to strengthen their strategic advantage to attract investment, export premium products and services, and drive jobs growth in the state.”

Academy Board Member Sean Holden said regular trade missions have opened doors to India’s peak cricketing bodies.

“This trade mission has taught us that we have much to learn and we have already established wonderful relationships with amazing people doing incredibly entrepreneurial things,” Mr Holden said.

“Australian cricketers are respected for their competiveness, determination and leadership skills – there is a growing global appetite for our expertise.

“South Australian coaches and players would travel to India and provide specialist advice.

“Our initial focus would be to train India’s cricket coaches, administrators and upcoming players aged between 16 to 19 years old.

“Indian cricket delegations would then visit South Australia to continue professional training and compete against state league or leading high school teams.

“The Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy is aiming to collaborate with local cricket providers to establish programs involving hundreds of Indian cricketers of all abilities and backgrounds, when the Centre of Excellence opens next year.
“Our aim is to establish an exchange program between two passionate cricketing countries, focused on social, cultural, sporting, educational and vocational outcomes,” Mr Holden said.

Mr Hamilton-Smith said India is South Australia’s third largest export market, worth more than $800 million, but there is significant potential for growth in service provision and tourism.

Minister for Tourism Leon Bignell said the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy exchange program could help attract more Indian tourists to South Australia, providing ongoing benefits for the state’s tourism industry.

“India and South Australia share a deep passion for cricket, which was highlighted when Adelaide hosted India’s opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup,” Mr Bignell said.

“The World Cup generated $80 million into the state’s economy but the economic benefit for us went well beyond the massive tourism injection. We promoted South Australia to a viewing audience of 1 billion people.

“International visitors are critical to the state’s economic growth and that’s why the State Government has invested $35 million over two years to attract visitors from overseas and interstate.”