Two former, elite players visited budding young cricketers in Moree last week.
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The Australian Cricketers Association sent John Dyson former Australian opening batsman and David Gilbert fast bowler to pass on tips to students at Saint Philomena’s on Friday.
Dyson talked to primary and secondary players about his many coaching tips learned throughout the years, as the school hosted their annual T20 blast.
He also brought along some amazing memorabilia, including his Australian Baggy Green and NSW Baggy Blue cap.
Dyson reminded the players that “the key to success, no matter where you are from or what you are trying to achieve, you must work hard and practice the basics of the game all the time.”
On Saturday both cricketing legends spent time talking with members of the Moree junior cricket committee while viewing the local juniors in action.
Sarah Osborne had the MILO in2 cricketers busy developing their game skills, while the 10s and 12s were able to show the former Australian cricket representatives what the new junior formats stages one and two looks like for the participants on shorter wickets, smaller fields and lighter cricket ball.
Both players were amazed at the pace of the game with lot of runs being scored by the participating boys and girls. No doubt the bowling of the 10s needs some work Gillbert thought but potential for future stars was evident.
It was the stage two batters that impressed Dyson hitting fours and running twos regularly throughout both innings.
Moree Junior Cricket president David Watts was delighted to be able to show off the new turf wicket and fenced oval at Harborne Oval to the visitors and discussed the Moree council’s future plans to develop a new turf wicket facility in conjunction with Moree AFL and cricket.
The key needed currently for Moree cricket is more space as they have Harborne oval a maximum capacity this season with over 250 junior players attending the ground every Saturday morning.
Future plans to upgrade the lighting in the main oval will help as some fixtures will be able to be moved to twilight events which also move cricket away from the heat of the day.
One of the key discussions for the visit was about retention of players from the very young age groups to older 16s and opens cricket.
This is a major concern across regional NSW as students move away to school, university and work. Gilbert as former CNSW general manager expressed concern on how metropolitan clubs can work better with the country associations to offer ongoing player opportunities when they relocate.
Locally Moree cricket has plans in place to keep growing their program for more to get engaged. Starting on Wednesday, February 15 CNSW will be assisting Moree cricket host a girls-only T20 Blast
Also, a partnership is being formed with Moree East Primary School and the Clontarf program to host a term one after school T20 Blast Cricket program for the students at the school.
Dyson is set to return to Moree in a couple of weeks as a guest coach at the upcoming Shawn Brown School Holiday Camp.
If you have not yet registered please do so this week as maximum numbers have almost been reached. Watts is very keen to ensure they provide a great cricket opportunity for all their members at this first large scale local school holiday camp with Elite players in attendance.
More information about both programs can be found at www.playcricket.com.au.