The Victorian Bushrangers are striving to become the leading team in Australian domestic cricket this summer. Already they are linking up with the best off the field, which is why they have today launched a new look website, www.bushrangers.com.au in conjunction with Sportal Australia.
The new-look Bushrangers website features news, player profiles, features, player columns, regularly updated statistics, world-class photos and sections for Premier Cricket, womens cricket, the Junior Bushrangers and the corporate sponsors of the team and the Victorian Cricket Association. On match days, the site will feature live scoring and news updates at the end of every session of play.
On their way are various interactive features such as competitions, giveaways, online chat, trivia, polls, games and regular audio reports from wicketkeeper Darren Berry and teammates.
Sportal started working with the VCA last season when a pilot website was launched for the Premier Cricket finals. That site has been rolled out this season to be an all-encompassing site for 25 associations and more than 100 clubs throughout Victoria across all levels of the sport.
Sportal Australia’s commercial manager Chris Mutimer said that after the early success of the VCA website (www.viccricket.asn.au) it was only natural for the partnership to be extended to include the Bushrangers as well. “We’re going to provide unprecedented online coverage of any state cricket team in Australia. We all know that interest in the Pura and Mercantile Mutual cups is not necessarily reflected in gate attendances and that thousands of Victorians follow the Bushrangers on a daily basis throughout the summer. More than ever, these fans will become the team’s 13th man and this site will allow them to become intricately involved with the side.’’
Sportal is the world’s leading independent provider of online sports content and has a proven track record of working with elite sporting organisations. Sportal is the Internet partner of AC Milan, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Paris-St.Germain, South African Rugby and the Benetton Formula One team and also partnered with UEFA to produce the official website of the EURO 2000 soccer championships and until the Sydney Olympics, was the most heavily-visited sports website in the world.
In Australia, Sportal produces and maintains the official website of the PGA Tour of Australasia (www.pgatour.com.au) and in partnership with SBS Television, produces Australia’s leading soccer site, www.theworldgame.com.au. Its own site, www.sportal.com.au is fast becoming a compulsory destination for sports fans wanting the latest news and information from around the world.
VCA chief executive Ken Jacobs said the Bushrangers were proud to become another of the high-profile list of sporting teams to partner with Sportal. “Sportal is innovative, progressive and creative and has a proven track record in the business. We look forward to working with them to produce another world-class website.’’
As is the case with the VCA site, Melbourne-based IT consultancy, Ibase Global has worked with Sportal to produce a leading edge content management system.
The new look Bushrangers website went live in time for today’s season launch and will crank into gear on Sunday with regular updates on the Mercantile Mutual one-day match between the Bushrangers and the New South Wales Blues.
For further information
Sportal Australia: Ashley Browne:
03) 98262744 or (0407) 077423
VCA: Jason Bakker:
(03) 96501100 or (0402) 321032