Australian transplant cricket team visits Wickford for match

Transplant cricket team visits for friendly match

17 minutes ago Share Save Aimee Dexter BBC News, Essex Share Save

Richard Knights/BBC Australia Lucky Stars Transplant Cricket played a friendly match against Wickford Cricket Club

An Australian cricket team made up of people who have had transplants has played a friendly match in a town. The Australia Lucky Stars Transplant Cricket team played against Wickford Cricket Club. The team were in the UK to play three games against the England and Wales Transplant Cricket Club in the 2025 Transplant Ashes, which they lost to the home side. Vice-captain of the Australian team Daryl Zaffiro said: "The opportunity to play cricket again or to travel, anything like that, is something I thought I'd never have the opportunity to do again."

Richard Knights/BBC Daryl Zaffiro said he was sent to hospital after he felt sick while travelling

Mr Zaffiro said he was travelling in the UK when he found out his kidneys were failing after being sent for tests. "About a year later I had my transplant," he explained. "As the years progressed, I got a lot healthier, and just having the opportunity to join the club makes all the difference. "We are all dealing with the same things." England and Wales won the three-match series 2-1 against Australia to win the 2025 Transplant Ashes.

Richard Knights/BBC Nikki Anderson, who organised the match, said it was an "honour" to host the Australian team

Following the series, Nikki Anderson, the women's captain at Wickford cricket club, was approached to see if they could house a friendly match between the teams. "I was approached by my cousin who is connected to the Australian team who asked if we would host it at our ground in Wickford. "I have never had an Australian team visit our cricket club, so I welcomed them with open arms," she said.

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