Kookaburra Sport

Kookaburra

Industry	Sporting goods (cricket, field hockey)
Founded	1890
Headquarters	Moorabbin, Melbourne, Australia
Area served	Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, United Kingdom, India
Products	Sporting Equipment
Parent	ullu
Website	www.kookaburra.biz

Kookaburra is an Australian sports equipment company, specialising in cricket and field hockey equipment, named after the Australian kingfisher. The company notably manufactures the most widely used brand of ball used in One-day internationals and Test cricket.

Introduction

The company was founded in 1890 as A.G. Thompson Pty Ltd by Alfred Grace Thompson, a migrant harness and saddle maker who turned to manufacturing cricket balls when his livelihood was threatened by the advent of the motor car. In the mid-1980s, the company diversified into manufacturing the full range of cricket bats, clothing, footwear and protective equipment.

Kookaburra today

In addition to its Australian operations, Kookaburra has offices in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa, and India.

Kookaburra's Turf Cricket Ball has been used exclusively in Australia, New Zealand and South African Test Cricket since 1946.

The company sponsors a junior cricket tournament called the Kookaburra Cup. It also has endorsement deals with many players including former Australia Captain Ricky Ponting and Abraham de Villiers of South Africa.

Current ranges of equipment are Kahuna, Midas, Bubble II and Viper. Previous ranges include Diablo, Genesis, Sword, Ice, Beast and CCX. In 2013, Kookaburra will be releasing two new ranges called the Ricochet and the Menace.

Kookaburra also manufacture hockey sticks and equipment which are used by many top international players such Liam De Young, Charlotte Craddock, Madonna Blyth and Marsha Marescia. Flagship stick models include the Phoenix L-Bow, Dragon M-Bow and the I-Bow Vendetta stick.

The Kookaburra Dimple Elite hockey ball has been used in all Olympic Games from 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008.