Next generation carrying the bat

THE sound of balls being hit for six and bails knocked off wickets is echoing across Doug Dean Reserve as eager kids take to the cricket pitch on Thursday evenings.

As part of Woolworth’s Cricket Blast, Delacombe Cricket Club is hosting a Master Blasters cricket program from 4.30pm every Thursday until 17 March.

The afternoons see an enthusiastic group of children taking turns batting and bowling, encouraged by senior club members Ben Tuovinen and Caleb Smith.

Club president Thomas Nichols said that although the program’s announcement was short notice, the turnouts were a success.

“We got there in the end. All we want is for the kids to get out there and get involved,” he said.

The program’s hour-and-a-half routine consists of 20 minutes of skills practice followed by a modified cricket match.

Nichols said he hopes the sessions will drive the recruitment process for their younger teams and spark a passion for the sport among its participants.

“This is how we start our junior programs a lot by having our kids leapfrog from this into our junior levels,” he said.

“We only have one side for this season so for the next one we’re aiming to fill our under 11s right through to 17s.”

Although geared towards ages seven to 11, the program is inclusive of younger children willing to give the sport a try.

Delacombe resident Rohan Jackson stood at the sidelines ready to toss back stray balls in support of his five-year-old son Jasper.

“He’s got way too much energy to be in the house so this’ll definitely help that,” he said. “They’re all putting in which is awesome, that’s what you want.”

Nichols said he looks forward to the program’s continuation, and sees it as the first step in rekindling a sense of community for the club following the COVID pandemic.

“My aim is to put the club on the map, to get more kids and families down here, and to sort of centralise VRI as the main summer sport here,” he said.

The entry cost for the program is $85, and people can visit the Club’s Facebook page to find out how to register.