Kyabram croquet star Trevor Bassett will return to the Australia set-up for the first time in 20 years at the prestigious MacRobertson Shield. Photos: Jordan Townrow.
A local will represent Australia at one of croquet’s most prestigious international competitions over the next fortnight.
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Kyabram’s Trevor Bassett will don the green and gold at the 2026 MacRobertson Shield, putting an end to a 20-year hiatus from the national team set-up.
Held every four years, the MacRobertson Shield is association croquet’s world team championships, contested between Australia, England, New Zealand and the United States.
This year it will take place in England from July 24 to August 9, with the hosts also being the current holders, having finished first ahead of Australia in 2022.
The tournament sees each team playing each other for a total of three tests, the country that finishes first in the round-robin format claiming the shield.
Australia plays England first and is contending with a few challenges as it aims to put its best foot forward.
Bassett’s team is the lowest-ranked going into the shield, as Australia’s top five players won’t be travelling as they are unavailable.
That means the side will field three debutants, making Bassett the second-most experienced player as he gears up for his fourth shield appearance.
Another hindrance to preparation is the sport currently being in its off-season down under and New Zealand, although England and the US’ players are in season.
“Certainly underdog status,” Bassett said.
“We’re up against the top guys test one, so if we happen to get through that, then we’ve got our work cut out for us still for the next two tests.”
Should Australia pull off an unlikely victory against the holders, it will play the loser of the other first test between New Zealand and the US.
The Aussies have been doing their best to prepare for an expectedly tough tournament.
They will train every day leading up to the first test once they arrive in England, complementing several sessions they partook in together at home.
Five players, including Bassett, also had a more competitive hit out together at Rich River Croquet Club’s recent Association Croquet Open Singles event.
Bassett’s routine has involved having a hit every morning on his own backyard croquet court, something he doesn’t usually do.
Bassett and Australia are up against it in England but will aim to upset the apple cart.
“I'm not expecting miracles but if we can all stay positive and support each other, and my personal goal is, I don’t care if I don’t win a match, I just want to win games, come out in front from a ranking point of view,” he said.
“I'm not supposed to win a thing. Well, anything I win is a bonus, so (I’m) hoping just to say that I've done my bit. Getting us a couple of surprise victories here and there would be lovely.”
Performing well from an individual standpoint is particularly important for the Kyabramite, as he enters the tournament as its lowest ranked player across all four countries.
Each test in the shield comprises 21 matches and runs for five days, which includes three days of doubles and two days of singles, with each individual match being a best of three.
Bassett will play his doubles matches with Greg Hill.
Australia plays its first test against England across both The Hurlingham Club and Roehampton Club, with other tests taking place at the Sussex County Croquet Club and Surbiton Croquet Club.
The nature of the four venues bring about a prestige for players, but also unwanted obstacles.
“We don't get a lot of spectators down here usually, but they've all got bars and whatever else connected to their clubs over there,” Bassett said.
“At Surbiton, if you're on lawn one, you've got people drinking five feet away from you, and they're not whispering, they're talking loudly and carrying on and going, ‘oh, what's this Aussie doing? Where's he from?’ All this sort of stuff.
“So it's an interesting concept to try and block all that sort of stuff out while you're taking important shots.”
In addition to the action on the greens, players will attend a centenary dinner at Roehampton following Australia’s meeting with England, where the two countries played the shield’s first ever test on June 26 and 27, 1925.
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