Bears to play under lights in Big Bash style cricket game

JUNIOR cricketers at the Ballina Bears will get a rare chance to play under lights when the club hosts its Big Bash Twenty20 game.

The match will be held at Fripp Oval on Tuesday, December 30, at a time when the professional men’s Big Bash League is dominating screens over summer.

The match was held for the first time last year and aims to give kids more cricket during the school holidays.

Under-14 coach Luke Hall said it offers something new for juniors, with the focus on participation and growing the game.

“The whole idea behind it is to give the kids an opportunity to play under lights, different ball, different conditions, and something they don’t normally get in regular juniors,” he said.

“It’s a fun, but still a competitive way for them to play against each other.

“It also gives them something to look forward to in that quiet week between Christmas and New Year.

“We also use it as a chance for the parents to have a chat and meet each other if they haven’t already.”

The match will also give some kids extra preparation before representative carnivals are played across the state in January.

Most of them will take part in Lismore under-12 and Ballina under-13 carnivals. The Lismore carnival mainly plays in the T20 format, where Cricket NSW is also investing heavily in its junior programs.

“We’ll turn the lights on as it gets darker to create that true Big Bash atmosphere,” Hall said.

“Teams will be as even as possible and we’ll have the men’s BBL on the big screen in the clubhouse.”