The Papua New Guinea Women’s National Cricket Team, the Lewas, have completed a week long high-performance training camp in Brisbane as they embark on their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in Fiji this week.
Brisbane Boost For Lewas
The camp was supported by Queensland Cricket, the Australian Defence Force, and local Brisbane cricket clubs. With pre Camp support provided by the Australian Government through the PacificAus Sports Program and the Pacific Invitational held in PNG in June.
Throughout the camp, the Lewas trained at Queensland Cricket’s elite facilities — the National Cricket Centre and Allan Border Field — and played four matches against a Queensland Premier Select XI, which included four players from the Australian Defence Force.
Queensland Cricket played a central role in the camp’s success, providing logistics, access to venues, high-quality opposition, and coaching support through a dedicated coach advisor. The team also benefited from a sports psychology session, strengthening their mental preparation for international competition.
A special mention goes to Kade Horan from Queensland Cricket, who managed logistics for the camp and ensured the Lewas had seamless access to facilities, opposition, and support throughout their stay.
Grassroots cricket clubs also played a vital role. The Albany Creek Cricket Club and Sandgate Redcliffe Cricket Club hosted games, while the Ferny Cricket Club and Redcliffe City Junior Cricket Club made generous donations of cricket gear and funds for essential supplies.
The camp concluded with a community engagement event at the QC T20 Max final at Allan Border Field, giving the Lewas the opportunity to connect with the local PNG and cricket community.
Tom McDonald Queensland Cricket Coach and Talent Specialist who is an Advisor to the Lewas said the experience was invaluable:
“This camp has been game-changing for our players. Training and competing in a high-performance environment, supported by Queensland Cricket, and the broader Brisbane cricket community, has given us confidence and momentum heading into the qualifiers in Fiji.”
The Lewas’ Brisbane camp demonstrates the power of collaboration across the Pacific, showcasing how government, sporting organisations, and grassroots communities can come together to help athletes achieve their international goals.