AFTER months of preparation the time has come for Dubbo's talented young indoor cricketers to join their NSW Country Cyclones team mates and take part in the National Tournament.
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Beginning this Sunday, the tournament is set to take place at Brisbane's Toombul Indoor Sports Centre.
Dubbo will be represented by no less than 12 players. The Cyclones profile on the Nationals stage has grown somewhat in the past couple of years, going from players with a lot of heart but not a great deal of competition skills to being serious contenders for the flag.
The amount of heart has never waned though, meaning the Cyclones are now rated alongside the best teams in Australia.
With expectations now high for the Cyclones crew, the players have been training the house down at their local centres as well as participating in local men's competitions.
In the 17 and Under Boys, Wade Burrowes, Tom Barber and Adlai Shipp will fly the Dubbo flag in Brisbane.
Burrowes has been named Player of the Tournament in the past two years, and is again expected to feature heavily. Barber and Shipp have both gained valuable experience in Superleague competitions, and should be key players for the Cyclones. The 17 Boys will be under the tutelage of local Greg King, who is hoping to improve on last year, where the boys finished third.
After both enjoying very successful seasons in the outdoor version of the game, Thomas Nelson and Tom Atlee have jumped straight back into indoor and shown vast improvement in their range of skills. They will be Dubbo's only representatives in the 15 and Under Boys, with Don Skinner the coach and Marty Nelson his manager.
The 13 and Under Boys is dominated with local players. Tom Coady, Mitchell Lincoln, Paddy Nelson, Anthony Atlee, Mack Shipp and Aeddan Todhunter will all feature in the line-up that sees all nine of last year's players retained with the addition of Todhunter, and also the highly rated Adam McGuirk from Gunnedah.
It is hoped with the experience gained from last year the boys will be able to put their best foot forward in challenging for finals contention. The team will be coached by Dubbo pair Dan French and Aidan Bennewith and managed by Naomi Coady.
In the 17 and Under Girls, local Emma Hughes will head to Brisbane to help her team defend the National title they won so convincingly last year. The side, which is similar to the team that took out the tournament last year, is again expected to be up there in the rankings this year.
This year has some added incentive for the players, with two Australian teams being selected in each division to head to the Junior World Cup later in the year.
With Greg King already selected to coach the Australia A 17 and Under Boys, officials are hoping that there will be some more Cyclones joining him for the tour.
