History of ATCC

The Australia Transplant Cricket Club (ATCC) is without doubt very unique . All players representing the ATCC have received a life-altering organ transplant. In keeping with the famous Ashes tradition, the ATCC was born out of the natural sporting rivalry that exists between Australia and England.

At the World Transplant Games in Nancy, France July 2003 England topped the overall medal tally which wasn't too surprising considering the sheer weight of their numbers participating.

Transplant Australia CEO, Mr Mark Cocks seized the opportunity and issued the challenge to the English to compete in a cricket series against Australian transplant recipients. Hence the ATCC was formed. Subsequently, in recognition of the contribution David Hookes made to both Australian Cricket and the cause for Organ Donation, the David Hookes Memorial Shield was established.

Two test matches and two one day matches were contested against the Great Britain Transplant Cricket Club (GBTCC) during the inaugural series contested in Adelaide and Sydney in September/October 2004, with 3 wins and a draw to Australia.

Amongst the initial squad of 20 players, 11 have received kidney transplants. The team also includes liver, heart, bone marrow and lung transplant recipients. Each member has overcome enormous health challenges and has been given the ultimate super sub in life an organ transplant.

Indeed one of the major aims of the cricket team is to actively promote organ donation in conjunction with Transplant Australia. Whilst Australia has one of the best transplant success rates in the world, it has one of the lowest organ donation rates in the developed world. The ATCC aims to raise awareness of the need for organ donation and encourage all Australians to consider organ donation so that lives aren't lost to chronic disease where transplantation is a viable form of treatment.

One team member has had the distinction of playing for the David Hookes Foundation team under the captaincy of Greg Matthews in the SA Premiers Invitational match; and another played in these matches for a few years alongside other "big name" international players.

The mascot for the club is the Australian hairy-nosed wombat; with the team members being referred to as The Wombats. This came about after some friendly sledging of an English opening batsman who was seen to be poking around, a bit like an old wombat. One of the fielders called out "Give him the wombat ball" and like good mud, it stuck.

The kit bag contains protectors of prescription, a mobile pharmacy with numerous cocktails of medicine that are taken at regular intervals to prevent rejection.

Catches win matches, but good matches save lives. A good match for us means an organ well suited to our blood and tissue type, resulting in a long second innings in life.

In January 2006 the ATCC was named the ABC Grandstands most unique Australian Cricket Club of the Year for 2005.

The Australian Transplant Cricket Club boasts a unique collection of talented individuals from Western Australia to New South Wales and from Tasmania to Queensland, all with their very own story of triumph against the odds and all with a strong desire to represent their country on the cricket field. Above all else they each have immense gratitude to their donor families who made a courageous decision to give the gift of life in tragic circumstances.

Indeed every time the team takes the field, there are 11 players representing 22 peoples lives.