INDUSTRY NEWS
Australia claims the Almond Ashes
Link to video: https:// vimeo. com / 1087865204? share = copy # t = 0
Watch more of the action with our 2025 Almond Ashes highlight reel video above.
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AUSTRALIA has tied the Almond Ashes cricket series against India with a win on home soil. It was the first time the match has been played in Australia, with the previous five contests being staged in Dubai prior to Gulfood. The Mildura Lawn Tennis Club was a perfect venue, enabling Indian box-style cricket to be played. Instead of playing on an oval, the match was played on a rectangular field and all sides of the boundary are fenced. Five points were deducted from the score when a player went out or a ball was hit over the fence. The Indian team, made up of almond buyers, won the toss and chose to field first. The Australian team, bolstered by several handy local cricketers, who are involved in almond growing, processing and service provision, went on to make 100 runs. Almond Board of Australia Marketing Officer Tom Cooper was instrumental in organising the match. Despite playing cricket at an international level, Cooper watched from the sidelines, taking on a non-playing captain role for the home team. India had a strong start to their innings before ofi’ s Jaimin Vyas took five wickets in his Almond Ashes debut. India’ s decision to bat last may have cost them the game, as the sun started to set while the match was still in progress. The visitors posted 73 runs to fall 27 short of the Australian score.
In A Nutshell- Winter 2025 Vol 26 Issue 2
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There was a winning side, but at the end we were all having a great time.
- Gunjan Jain, India Nuts and Dried Fruit Council
The Almond Ashes were held in Australia to allow the Indian almond buyers an opportunity to see the new season crop as it was being delivered for processing. The cricket game has now been played six times, and is regarded as a valuable relationship building exercise for one of Australia’ s key export markets. Gunjan Jain from the India Nuts and Dried Fruit Council said cricket is a religion in India and matches aren’ t taken lightly.“ There was a winning side but at the end, but all were having a great time,” he said. Mr Jain said Brand Australia is being embraced in India and the future is bright for almond exports to the subcontinent.“ People really associate Australia with sophistication, sustainability and they don’ t have to worry about food safety,” he said.“ We launched a consumer pack with Australian Almonds branding and it became a big hit that’ s reaching new milestones month on month.”