Cricket, Aussie Rules on menu

More Australian sporting fare will be tossed on the grill when the Great Aussie Barbie sizzles at Beijing's Dulwich College on Saturday.

The annual event has traditionally been paired with the battle for the 'Beijing Ashes' between cricket teams representing the embassies of Australia and the United Kingdom, and an added attraction this year will see Down Under's most popular sport, Australian Rules football, kick off the proceedings with the Beijing Bombers tackling the Shanghai Tigers for the China Cup.

A potential clash of dates at the north Beijing venue has turned into a boon for fans of anything antipodean.

"The president of the Beijing Aussie Rules club (Mic Mittasch) contacted us when he realized there might be a clash of dates at Dulwich and suggested we combine the events," said AustCham Beijing spokeswoman Tesh Jamieson, whose organization co-sponsors the festival with MLA Australia.

"It's going to be a great addition to the day and we are really looking forward to it."

The Bombers hold the Cup after a resounding victory over the Tigers at the same venue last year, but they are about a goal (six points) down after dropping the first leg in Shanghai earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the Aussie embassy cricket team, cheered on by Ambassador Frances Adamson, will be out to defend the 'Beijing Ashes' it won last year; somewhat of a precursor to the big team's Test whitewash of England in the Australian summer.

tymglaser@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/12/2014 page23)