Program provides an even wicket

MAIDEN Gully Marist Cricket Club took home the Bendigo Bank Community Minded award for their all-abilities cricket program.

The project aims to ensure people with disadvantages and disabilities can be included in the sport.

With about 50 athletes taking part in the program, ranging from players with low muscle tone to low mobility, organisers seek to provide a flexible approach that puts the player at the centre of the experience.

Maiden Gully Marist’s Rob Fisher said the club seeks to make sure anyone can come along and play.

“We modify the program for them,” he said. “We will use soft balls, so there is no need for protective equipment, so people can just come and have a bit of fun and it is a lot of fun to watch them play.

“At the other end of it, we have as close to mainstream cricket as you can get. We use a hard ball and protective gear.

“There are pathways to representative cricket as well.”

And the program has contributed its fair share of representative level players.

“We have players who have played for Victoria in the national intellectual disability division,” Fisher said. “We also have had one player who represented Australia last year.”

Fisher also said he couldn’t be prouder of the program that was inspired by his brother.

“It feels awesome mate to be honest, especially to share it with my twin brother who was the catalyst for the program all those years ago,” he said.