Australian Cricket Tours
Australian Cricket Tours
‘Australian Cricket Tours’ formerly toured under the brand ‘Waving The Flag’ (a.k.a. The Flag), which was created by long time Australian cricket tourist, Luke 'Sparrow' who has been touring with Australian Cricket since 1995.
"Welcome to Australian Cricket Tours!
I am proudly the only Australian spectator to have seen Australia play in all Test nations (plus the U.A.E.) that Australia has competed.
Since my first cricket tour to the West Indies in 1995 I have lived in London (still on my Australian passport!), from where it is more convenient and affordable to travel the cricket world. After my first Australian Test Match was enjoyed at home in Melbourne, my 200th Australian Test Match was celebrated in London, at Lord's Cricket Ground in August 2019, which was graciously lauded with great thanks by Cricket Australia.
Travel habits have changed markedly since 1995 when one had to visit Australian missions to read tour squad selections in Australian newspapers. Now with everything at your fingertips, cricket tours, and squads, can be researched and booked online from the comfort of your living room but you ultimately may still wonder ‘what happens when I get there?’ What I came to appreciate is that the game is far more enjoyable with others.
Having followed Australia to all Test Nations from 1995, after being contacted by countless wishing to 'do what I do', I commenced (with my mate Darren Moulds (ret.)) organising 'fun and affordable cricket tours' under the brand 'Waving The Flag'; our first tour to India in Feb 2001.
From basic tours of match tickets, a bed, and yellow shirt, 'The Flag' matured to fully escorted tours that included quality hotels or apartments, airport transfers, domestic travel, day trips, dinner parties, nightly entertainment, and so much more.
Our simple approach bound everyone with such enthusiasm that more & more ‘Flaggers’ travelled year after year. Not only to stay safe in numbers but knowing life at the game with many great people made a far more memorable trip.
Many that tour with us have travelled the world independently & confidently, driving, hiking, biking, walking, cruising, or flying across 7 continents yet still join 'Australian Cricket Tours' to enjoy the experience with awesome people
Some have toured since 1995 and it is those and the friendships garnered in the terraces over the years that continue to build our reputation. Those that first toured with us in India in 2001 now very much appreciate a 4 or 5 star hotels we now stay, and the services we offer.
Our early 'budget focussed' tours were to help more people travel the world to support Australian Cricket, yet staying in backpackers, cheap hotels, or guesthouses under a relaxed and fun brand, hosting upwards of 250 people on each tour, became a curse. As our brand matured, we evolved from 2006 onwards to staying in higher-end hotels, including transfers and group flights, and a lot more comfort and benefits.
Yet year after year people would tell us how they would love to tour with us but don't want to stay in backpackers. We haven't 'backpacked' per se since 2006, even then, in South Africa, we offered backpackers and apartments. This is why we encourage people to read our tour pages in depth, to understand what you are booking, including the hotels that we hyperlink for your benefit, so you can see where we are staying, and decide if you want to stay there too.
To fully detach from the false expectation of low hotel standards, in 2017 we ditched 'Waving The Flag' and moved to what we do and are, 'Australian Cricket Tours'. A brand not wrongly interpreted as a group of yellow-shirt wearing 'fooligans'.
We were never 'fooligans', but couldn't shake people's idea that we were, no matter how focussed we were on simply helping people enjoy cricket across the world, safely, knowing the game visits places far less comforting than your living room. So, here we are now with the more formal and 'internet friendly brand', 100% focussed on bringing people together at the game and little else.
Depending on where we go contributes to what we include and services we offer. We list inclusions on each tour, often leaving you to get to/from the airport, choose your preferred sight-seeing and make your own way to the game. At our pre-game dinner party, we distribute match tickets and detail how to reach each venue if we are not driving you. We also provide indepth information (see link below) before you tour so you better understand what to expect.
As simple as our Australian Cricket Tours are, we are still there to assist and organise. We employ people that have toured with us for more than 20 years to assist and advise you on each tour, and organise important ground work that, like our tours, is fully based on their experience of having been there.
If test matches end early we organise day trips to fill the gap, and we go out each night after play, none of which you are obliged to partake. We leave you to do what you want before or after each match, when you want, however you want… without the need to pay for inclusions you may not need or want.
Being UK based doesn't change our passion towards Australian Cricket. Not long ago a couple chose not to tour with us because they wanted to (using their words) 'keep their money in Australia'.
You're going to watch Australia play cricket overseas; your money will leave Australia one way or the other so please consider our near 30 years experience, knowledge, simplicity, and value we bring to your cricket touring, rather than where we are based.
I look forward to welcoming you and helping you experience Australian Cricket overseas before long.
Thank you for visiting, and touring!
Luke
#YourACT
Photo: Absorbing the passion of the India Pakistan border closing ceremony!
Our Australian Cricket Touring History:
1995 - Australia in West Indies
1996 - World Cup in India and Pakistan
1997 - Australia in South Africa and England
1998 - Australia in Pakistan
1999 - World Cup (England), Australia in West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe, South Africa in Zimbabwe, England in South Africa
2000 - Australia in New Zealand
2001 - Australia in India and England
2002 - Australia in South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Sharjah, India in West Indies
2003 - World Cup (South Africa and Zimbabwe), Australia in West Indies
2004 - Australia in Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and India, Sri Lanka in Zimbabwe
2005 - Australia in New Zealand and England, Sri Lanka in New Zealand, South Africa in West Indies
2006 - Australia in South Africa, and Bangladesh
2007 - No Test Tours Until...
2008 - Australia in Pakistan (postponed), West Indies, and India
2009 - Australia in South Africa, and England
2010 - Australia in New Zealand
2011 - World Cup (Sri Lanka), Australia in Sri Lanka, and South Africa
2012 - Australia in the West Indies
2013 - Australia in India, and England
2014 - Australia in South Africa, and UAE
2015 - Australia in the West Indies, England, and Bangladesh (cancelled)
2016 - Australia in New Zealand, and Sri Lanka
2017 - Australia in India, and Bangladesh
2018 - Australia in South Africa, and UAE
2019 - Australia in England
2020 - Australia in Bangladesh (postponed)
2021 - Australia in South Africa (postponed)
2022 - Australia in Pakistan, and Sri Lanka
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Call | Whatsapp: AU: +61.402.222217
Email: gday (at) australian cricket tours (dot) com