Local junior cricketers enjoy the trip of a lifetime in Sydney

Thirteen junior cricket players from the Narrabri Shire recently travelled to Sydney for Narrabri District Junior Cricket Association’s Sydney Cricket Trip.

For many of the local juniors, it was the trip of a lifetime.

The first annual trip was organised by the NDJCA committee alongside Winston Hills Cricket Club, which has been a huge supporter of Narrabri junior cricket across the past two years.

The NDJCA players that went on the trip were aged from eight to 15-years-old, and were all accompanied by one parent.

The players included Lachlan Baker, Will McClymont, Taryn Kirk, Lucas Duff, Hunter Barrett, Jackson and William Hayne, Cohan Harris, LucasDowdell, Bentley Myers, Michael Harris-Clayton, Fletcher Whan and Hamish Mason.

The trip was planned as an opportunity for country cricketers to visit the city and experience a different way of life.

It included a visit to Cricket Central, the home of NSW Cricket, a match against a Winston Hills Cricket Club team, and tickets to the Sydney Smash Big Bash match between the Sydney Sixers and the Sydney Thunder at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

NDJCA chairman Luke Baker told The Courier that it was an enjoyable weekend that for many of the juniors would be a trip of a lifetime.

“It was amazing,” Baker said.

“It was a very big eye-opener for the kids.

“The experience that we all had down there was amazing.

“The people down at Winston Hill were lovely and they all wanted to do anything for us.

“The trip was the first and it will be the first of many. It will be happening each year.”

One of the highlights of the trip was the visit to Cricket Central, the home of NSW Cricket.

There, the NDJCA players caught up with NSW and Australian cricketer

Mitchell Starc, who did a question and answer session with the juniors from the Narrabri Shire.

Starc’s mother Julie May is the treasurer at the Winston Hill Cricket Club and was one of the driving forces behind the trip.

The NDJCA cricketers also had a net session there in the indoor training facility, where they had the chance to train next to the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team, which was playing a one day series against Australia at the time.

Another highlight of the trip was the Sydney Smash Big Bash game at the SCG on the Saturday night.

The Sydney Sixers demolished their cross-city rivals, the Sydney Thunder, in that match.

Steve Smith put on a masterclass with the bat as he scored an unbeaten 125 runs, which in the end was the
exact difference between the sides.

Baker said that the NDJCA players were thrilled to attend such a high-
level game.

“The kids absolutely loved it,” he said.

“It rained before we got there, so we couldn’t watch them warm up, which kind of dampened the mood.

“But as soon as we got in there, the atmosphere was just great.

“It was a really good game and we were lucky to see Steve Smith bat like that.”

Earlier that day, the NDJCA players lined up against a Winston Hills Cricket Club team.

The match was contested at Max Ruddock Park, Winston Hill, on a synthetic wicket. It was a 30-over match and it was agreed upon that the full 30 overs would be played in both innings, meaning that if a team was bowled out, some batters would line up for a second time.

The Winston Hills side won the match by 72 runs. The hosts batted first and made 4-157 in their 30 overs, and in reply, Narrabri finished on 14-85.

Taryn Kirk top-scored with the bat with 14 for the NDJCA side.

Lachlan Baker (1-7 from two overs), Cohan Harris(1-9 from three overs) and Fletcher Whan (1-13 from three overs) all took a wicket each, and Jackson Hayne chipped in with a runout.

“The game was really good. It was good to see how the city and country players are alike and also how they are different,” Baker said.

“We both play different cricket.

“Winston Hill’s team had players from 11-13-years-old, and they all bowled really well. They bowled up on our toes and we didn’t have much to play with.

“The kids from both clubs all got on so well, and they really bonded.

“Some of the Winston Hill kids then came to the Big Bash game with us that night too.”

Baker said that the trip would now be an annual one and would take place every year around January.

He also announced that NDJCA will host a Winston Hills Cricket Club junior team in Narrabri this year in December, which he also hoped would be an annual trip.

On behalf of the NDJCA committee, Baker thanked everyone who helped organise the trip and the sponsors who helped make it possible.

He also issued a massive thank you to Winston Hills Cricket Club for its hospitality.