[Episode 2 | 1998 : Mohammed]

Mohammed and Danielle are discussing the fact that she can't play on the boys' cricket team. While Mohammed and his family are moving into the new house, Michaelis and Omar discuss why playing cricket is more important than playing soccer, which leads to a play-off for the rent money.


The Australian curriculum: History

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The Australian Curriculum: History aims to ensure that students develop: 


History activities [3]

Activity 1: Cricket
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Subtheme(s): Culture; Entertainment and games; Historical events;

The history of the game of cricket is not clear-cut. Some believe it originated as a children's game in Medieval times. There are references to an early game played in pastures in Kent, England, where short grass made it possible to bowl or roll a ball of rags or wool at a wicket-gate target. A 'bat' was formed from a shepherd's crook, or staff.

  • Ask students to research the possible origins of cricket. They should develop ten fact cards that answer the following questions:
  1. Where and when was the first recorded cricket match?
  2. Who was involved in playing this early game?
  3. How was the game played?
  4. What were the rules?
  5. How did the game develop after this time?
  6. When and by whom were the first 'Laws of Cricket' established?
  7. When and where was the first international game of cricket played?
  8. Where is cricket played today?
  9. Who are the most noted players today?
  10. Describe the differences in the way women and men play the game.

  • Ask students to create a KWL chart about the history of cricket. A KWL chart is a graphic organiser that enables students to classify information. It will help them to organise material as it is gathered during their research. The three basic areas of classification in the chart are:
  1. What I Know
  2. What I Want to know
  3. What I Learned
  • The following websites are a useful resource for this activity:
  1. Cricket Australia, http://cricket.com.au
  2. Melbourne Cricket Ground, www.mcg.org.au


Activity 2: Australian cricket
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The sport of cricket is embedded in Australian culture owing to our British heritage. In this episode Mohammed is infatuated by cricket, but his father isn't keen on it. He believes it's not a game for 'wogs', that it is the preserve of 'Australians'.

An interesting event in Australian cricketing history is that 14 Indigenous players toured England in 1868 to showcase their skills. The team performed well on the long tour, playing 47 games of which they won 14 and drew 19. This was the first organised group of Australian cricketers to travel overseas.

  • Ask students to consider how the game of cricket became so popular and widespread in Australia, where many believe that Australian cricket is the best in the world. Have students develop a questionnaire about the popularity of cricket, which they can then put to other students, teachers and parents. Ask them to collate the results and prepare a report on popular opinion in their community about cricket in Australia.
  • Divide the class into small groups, assign them an era in Australian history, eg 1851–1910 or 1911–1939, and ask them to research the contribution of Indigenous cricketers during this period. Each group could produce a poster with images of the cricketers and information about their achievements.

  • Ask students to research an aspect of Australian cricket. For example, they might write a report about their favourite team, player or coach. This information can be presented in a digital slideshow format or as a poster. Alternatively, ask the students to create an advertisement for publicising the wonders of Australian cricket to the rest of the world. The advertisement could be for a magazine or for television.


Activity 3: Equality in sport
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Subtheme(s): Culture; Entertainment and games; Gender roles and stereotypes

In Episode 2, Mohammed and Danielle discuss the school cricket tryouts. Danielle is passionate about wanting equality in team selection and voices her opinion about discrimination against girls who want to play in the school cricket team.

  • Ask students to discuss gender equality in sports played at their school. They could record their responses to the following questions on a poster in the classroom:
  1. Are there teams for both girls and boys for every sport played at the school?
  2. Does the school offer mixed teams for sports?
  3. Do girls often try out for so-called 'boys' teams'?
  4. Have gender roles changed in sports at schools in the last ten years?
  • Divide the class into small groups. Each group should research, and present, a report on one of the following teams:
  1. The Australian women's cricket team
  2. The Australian women's basketball team
  3. The Australian women's soccer team
  4. The Australian women's baseball team
  5. The Australian women's water polo team
  6. The Australian women's netball team
  7. The Australian women's volleyball team
  8. The Australian women's hockey team
  9. The Australian women's Rugby Union team
  10. The Australian women's Rugby League team

  • Student Activity Sheet H2.3 contains a Spider Map, which has headings that will assist students to organise their responses to the video clip.


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