Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Troy Grant said the Home Ground Cricket Tour will promote cricket across the state.

“The NSW Government is pleased to support the event and give regional communities across NSW the chance to get involved in the lead up to the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015,” Mr Grant said.

“There is no better time to be a cricket fan in NSW, and I hope people across the state get along to their local sporting ground when the Home Ground Cricket Tour comes to town.”

Minister for Regional Tourism John Barilaro said the Home Ground Cricket Tour will visit 27 towns across NSW from December through to February with it making a stop in Parkes at Northparkes Oval on Tuesday, January 27.

“This tour will give people in regional areas an opportunity to view key pieces from the world-famous Bradman Museum and get involved with the sport by taking part in hands-on activities conducted by Cricket NSW,” Mr Barilaro said.

Plans are also underway to turn each of the locations visited into a celebration site, where the local community can enjoy highlights from previous ICC Cricket World Cups and live cricket broadcasts on the big screen at the end of each day. 

Mr Grant said the Home Ground Cricket Tour will build excitement leading into the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. 

“This tour to regional NSW will encourage people to secure their tickets now for a trip to Australia’s home of cricket, the Sydney Cricket Ground, which will host five games including Australia versus Sri Lanka on Sunday, March 8, followed by a quarter and a semi-final,” Mr Grant said.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the state to Sydney from February next year to see major cricketing nations go head-to-head at the SCG.”

For further information on the tour: www.sydney.com/homegroundtour .