Young bowler in state program

A LOCAL fast bowler is putting his skills to the test as one of the thirty-nine cricketers taking part in Cricket Victoria’s Under 19s Male Emerging Players Program.

Long-serving Ballarat-Redan Cricket Club member Jack Harwood joined 19 players as part of the program’s country squad, with pre-season training having started late last month.

With two sessions already under his belt as an emerging player, he said the program’s proving a valuable learning experience.

“It’s been a pretty good experience,” he said. “I’ve had coaching that I’ve never had before from Victorian players on contract and the facilities are top-level.

“It’s been a big step up. There’s more of a structure to it and a plan about how I’m going about my cricket and really focusing on one-on-one mentoring.

“I’ve had my run up changed to get more pace and been brought little pointers on movement and how to be always ready.”

Harwood’s has been training two days per week at CitiPower Centre Junction Oval in St Kilda, with his second session optional.

Following training, players in both the program’s country and metro teams will be chosen in late October prior to Cricket Australia’s National Championships in New South Wales the following month.

Harwood has been playing cricket from a young age and has been with Ballarat-Redan since he was nine years old.

Between the emerging players program, he divides his time between his home team and Melbourne Cricket Club after playing six games with them last year.

Harwood cites his father Shane, who was a fast bowler for Victoria for about a decade, as a major inspiration in his playing.

He said his dad’s been proud to see him take to the state team’s home ground.

“Dad’s been really happy and excited to help me as much as he can. He was the one that really got me into cricket,” he said.

“I want to try to make it to the highest goal I possibly can. To start, I want to try to get into the Victorian squad and see where I go.”