A high-profile cricket match at Dubbo next week will offer much more than the chance to see some of the state’s best players in action.
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As part of a Baggy Blues tour, some legends of NSW cricket, some current standouts, and some stars of the future will all be on hand for a Twenty20 clash between a Dubbo XI and a Macquarie Valley XI under lights at No. 1 Oval.
The Baggy Blues is an organisation made up of former NSW cricketers.
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The current NSW players, headlined by reigning Steve Waugh medalist and Western Zone junior Daniel Hughes, will run a clinic for some of the region’s junior players while members of the Baggy Blues will join with the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) to promote a positive message for the entire community.
Figures from NSW Cricket, RAMHP, Dubbo District Cricket Association, Dubbo Regional Council, and local government were at No. 1 to launch the event on Monday.
“It’s a fantastic initiative from the Baggy Blues,” Cricket NSW Development Officer for the Far West, Matt Ellis, said.
“Giving the locals the chance to spread the mental health message through cricket. It’s bringing people together, starting a conversation through cricket and all centred around a game here at No. 1.”
We are using cricket as a vehicle to get the conversation started.
- Cricket NSW's Matt Ellis
The match will see six players in the NSW Blues program split between the Dubbo and Macquarie Valley sides.
Hughes, who also plays for the Sydney Sixers, will be joined at No. 1 by Sydney Thunder’s Ryan Gibson as well as fellow NSW young guns Harry Conway, Charlie Stobo, Param Uppal, and another still to be confirmed.
A whole host of Baggy Blues figures, including Gain Robertson, Rick McCosker, Phil Emery and Stuart Webster, will also be in attendance.
They won’t just feature at the junior clinic and match, they will also headline a sportsman’s dinner next Wednesday at the Dubbo RSL while they will also be on hand at a gameday breakfast run by RAMHP.
“We are using cricket as a vehicle to get the conversation started,” Ellis said in elation to the mental health aspect of the tour.
“Cricket is a game where people come together and people spend a lot of time having conversations.
“It’s a great space for people to take their mind off things and it’s been a pretty tough times for people out this way.”
This match follows on from another which also brought in high profile players and shone a light on an issue in the western area.
The recent SCG Trust match for drought relief saw the likes of Glenn McGrath, Stuart MacGill and Stuart Clark play and it drew in a huge crowd.
DDCA president Jeff Shanks was thrilled two such high-profile and important matches were being played out west and making the region “centre stage”.
“It’s a huge event for Dubbo and for Dubbo cricket,” Shanks said.
“When it was announced back in June we were very excited, especially because it means two games in Dubbo this season … it’s absolutely fantastic.
“It means a lot to the community. Obviously we’re in drought and we’ll continue to go through drought so that mental health side of things is huge. To be able to have a game where we can showcase that and have people involved is what we want.”
Shanks also confirmed the strongest sides possible will be put on display.
That will ensure the Twenty20 match will be played at an even higher standard as the best in Dubbo and the surrounding area take on a handful of players from the peak of NSW cricket.
The sportsman’s dinner will be held at Dubbo RSL next Wednesday, November 22. The Baggy Blues figures will be guest speakers on the night while there will also be a raffle and auction.
The junior clinic featuring NSW Blues players and the Baggy Blues will run from 4.30-6pm on the Thursday before the main match starts from 6.30pm.
It will be a gold coin donation for entry.
The following morning will see the RAMHP-run breakfast and mental health seminar go from 7.30-8.30am at the RSL. It is a free event.
“It’s going to be an opportunity to meet some of the Baggy Blues players but also showcase what’s available in terms of mental health services in our district,” RAMHP’s Camilla Kenny said, something local member Troy Grant reiterated.
“Having the Baggy Blues come to Dubbo not only means that the city will be treated to a top-class game of cricket, there will also be some important work done in relation to mental health awareness,” he added.
“There will be some good networking opportunities, and having the RAMHP involved as well will give people a chance to really think hard about their mental health, which is very important in rural areas at the moment.”