Dubbo Sportsworld manager Greg King has no doubt Dubbo will play host to future international cricketers this weekend when the 2016 Australian Junior Championships begins.
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The country’s best young indoor cricketers will converge on Dubbo for a week of action, all striving to be crowned a national champion.
A number of current and former Australian players, including national captains Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke all played high level indoor as juniors.
“I think we could see the future Australian captain playing at Dubbo this week, there’s a big chance of that,” King said.
King will also coach the NSW Country Cyclones 17 and under side while fellow locals Don Skinner and Dan French will coach the Cyclones 13s and 15s respectively.
“The nationals are the best of the best and Australia dominates in the World Cup so these are the best in the world for kids so it’s definitely worth coming and watching,” French said.
32 teams from all over the country will take part in the Championships with each state represented in the boys’ 13s, 15s and 17s while the girls’ Championship will be played out in the 14s and 17s.
With hundreds of players, as well as families and coaches, taking part in the week King said it will benefit all of Dubbo in terms of the boost it will give the local economy.
With the facilities at Sportsworld now rivalling any in the country and a number of local juniors set to take part in the Championships, French added it is an exciting time for the sport at Dubbo.
“It’s a great achievement and the first time the Nationals have been played outside a capital city and we’re pretty proud of that,” he said.
“Our town and regular indoor cricketers are excited, even guys who aren’t playing in it, they’re excited to come and watch and see a standard they don’t have access to normally.”
The action begins on Saturday evening with the NSW Country Cyclones taking on the ACT in all age divisions. Matches will be then played from 8.30am until 8.45pm each day until the finals on Saturday, July 9.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
