The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is set to host a unique event that combines the camaraderie of international military cooperation with the spirit of sportsmanship.
As part of Exercise Pitch Black 2024, a four-nation T10 cricket tournament will take place on July 26 in Darwin, featuring teams from the Australian Air Force, New Zealand Defence Force, Indian Air Force, and the Royal Air Force.
The Australian Air Force announced the move on its social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on July 23. The official RAAF account also posted a photo depicting personnel from four countries holding bats and helmets.
RAAF said, “Cricket won’t be an Olympic Sport until 2028, but we’re getting in early at exercise #PitchBlack24. A four-nation T10 tournament will be fought between the New Zealand Defence Force, the Indian Air Force, the Royal Air Force, and the Australian Air Force in Darwin on July 26. #StrongerTogether.”
The announcement sparked a buzz among netizens, with one user humorously quipping about eagerly anticipating updates on the winner of the “Pitch Black Cup.”
The integration of a T10 cricket tournament within this prestigious military exercise highlights the softer aspects of military diplomacy. Sports have long been a bridge between nations, providing a platform for informal interactions and mutual understanding.
The T10 format, known for its fast-paced and high-energy gameplay, will likely see each team compete in matches designed to showcase their skills both on and off the field.
Such events are designed to strengthen inter-military relationships and offer a refreshing break from the intense aerial and ground exercises that characterize Exercise Pitch Black.
Meanwhile, Cricket is set to return to the Olympics at Los Angeles in 2028. It last appeared in the 1900 Paris Games, with only two teams—Great Britain and France—competing for medals. Despite its global popularity, the sport has been absent from the Olympic program for over a century.
Last year, Cricket was among the five additional sports proposed by the LA28 Organising Committee for the 2028 Games, alongside baseball-softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) formalized cricket’s inclusion at the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai in Oct 2023.
In anticipation of this historic return, the Royal Australian Air Force seems to be embracing the spirit of cricket early with a T10 tournament during Exercise Pitch Black 2024.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is hosting the largest iteration of Exercise Pitch Black in its 43-year history, taking place from July 12 to August 2.
This year’s exercise features participation from 20 nations, over 140 aircraft, and approximately 4,435 personnel, making it a significant event for international military collaboration and engagement.
Exercise Pitch Black is the RAAF’s most extensive flying activity, designed to strengthen international engagement and enhance collaborative capabilities with foreign partners.
Operations are centered at RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory, with additional aircraft stationed at RAAF Base Amberley near Ipswich, Queensland.
According to the Australian Air Force, the exercise ensures that the Air Force remains responsive to the Australian Government’s needs and enables Australia to contribute to the sovereign security of participating nations, ensuring their readiness for contingency operations.
The name ‘Pitch Black’ is thought to originate from the focus on nighttime flying missions conducted over vast, uninhabited regions during early iterations of the exercise, despite not being exclusively conducted on moonless nights, as some have speculated.
Exercise Pitch Black debuted at RAAF Base Darwin from May 9-13, 1983. It initially served as an air defense exercise involving RAAF Mirage III fighters and F-111C strike jets, with participation from the United States Air Force. This exercise marked a significant event as it was the first major RAAF operation in Darwin following the impact of Cyclone Tracy in 1974.
Since then, Exercise Pitch Black has been consistently held in the Northern Territory, except for 1986 and 2002, and has occurred biennially since 1998, with the exception of the cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout its history, Exercise Pitch Black has attracted participation from over 20 nations, including two international contingents: NATO and the Multinational MRTT Unit, demonstrating its broad international appeal and significance in global military training and cooperation.
- Contact the author at ashishmichel(at)gmail.com
- Follow EurAsian Times on Google News
