NT Cricket is proud to showcase specially commissioned artwork created by Jessica Lloyd of Aboriginal Bush Traders, with input from NT squad captain Rhys French, as NT Cricket’s official stump gift for the 2026 National Indigenous Cricket Championships.
The artwork, Sky, Land and Sea Country, reflects family and connection, capturing the journeys that bring people together from across Australia to compete, connect and celebrate culture through cricket.
"I painted the Southern Cross for two reasons. One to represent Australia, but also the Southern Cross is a dreaming story from my pop’s (grandfather) country. For my family the Southern Cross represents the eagle claw, and the story tells a moral story about the greedy uncle (eagle-hawk) and his nephews (pigeon & wagtail). It also connects us to a place on our country and our links to the Sky Country, through the Southern Cross.
The next section represents me and my family. The 3 circles are the symbol for our homeland, Nudagun, north of Broome, on my Pops Country. The three circles represent each spring that make up Nudagun. If we are travelling past, we always stop to visit the springs and the hundreds of butterflys that live there. Nudagun is not only important as my family’s homeland, but it is also the start of an important Dreaming/Songline.
Next is the big gum tree, you can find many of these in Alice Springs and in different regions in Australia. I have heard about the big gum tree that grows at Traeger Park in Alice Springs, where cricket is played. For me, I generally paint this tree in the story of the emu in the sky as it plays a significant part of the magic warrior killing the giant emu that now rests in the sky. I painted wildflowers under the tree as wildflowers grow around Alice Springs as well as in Mullewa where my nan was born. I paint everlastings and other wildflowers with my nan.
The bottom of the painting with the two turtles and starfish represent the coast of Mackay’s reef and sea life that live there. The green sea turtle also holds special meaning to my mother and sisters.
The connecting piece that starts from the top and ends at the bottom with people’s footprints, shows all the people coming together from different parts of Australia to play cricket together."
Guided by the context shared by NT squad captain Rhys French, Sky, Land and Sea Country reflects the spirit of the National Indigenous Cricket Championships through Jessica Lloyd’s storytelling. The artwork highlights how cricket brings people together as a shared meeting place for stories and communities.