Opportunity knocks for Tom Coady and Koda Sissian at 2019 under 15 national titles

The talented young cricketers will play for the NSW Country/ACT side at the National Championships held in early February in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast. 

Both Tom, who plays for CYMS and Koda who plays for Rugby are highly respected by their clubs and have cemented places in senior ranks.

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CYMS president Marty Nelson said Coady is an attacking batsman and also a safe pair of hands behind the stumps as a wicket-keeper.

“This is his second season playing first-grade, he made his senior debut as a 14-year old and he has become an integral part of our side, his senior experience will hold him in good stead at the under 15 carnival I am sure of that,” he said.

“Playing week in and week out at the senior level is the best thing for cricketers like Tom, some kids can handle it and he has taken to it fairly comfortably.

“There a few quick bowlers in the senior competition so when he plays at the carnival he should have a bit of confidence against the bowlers he’ll face there.

“He hasn’t just been making up the numbers in our senior side, he is a valued member and contributor and picks himself really, he is big enough and strong enough to play seniors, and he will be expecting a strong show at the carnival, he has had plenty of experience at that level too.”

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Rugby president Steven Wheeler was equally effusive about Sissian’s prospects at the carnival.

“We put Koda in first-grade about four weeks ago and he has been going well for us,” he said.

“He is right at home in first-grade and we’ve been sending him in in the middle order, he’s a big lad and growing and we think he has plenty of ability.

“The experience of playing against the fastest bowlers in senior cricket in Western NSW is good, if they can handle them they more or less can go back to junior level and handle anything thrown at them.

“I think he’ll do well at the carnival, he played well against Colts the other day, Tom Atlee bowled pretty quickly to him and he handled it well, he had one bouncer right in front of his nose that he hooked for four, so that’s pretty brave stuff from a 15-year-old kid.”

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Cricket NSW Pathways Senior Manager Mark Cameron said it was a fantastic opportunity for Coady and Sissian to test themselves at a national level.

Cricket NSW Talent Manager Brett Rankin said excellent performances at the recent State Challenge and under age competitions were pivotal for selection.

“I hope they make the most of this opportunity,” he said. “I hope the learnings these boys take away from this experience filter back to their regional teams.”