CRICKET
As international cricket prepares to tee off in Mackay, local U20 cricketers are sharpening their skills and soaking up the excitement.
Marcus Sammut, aged 17, reflected on the upcoming Australia vs South Africa matches, saying, “It’s really good—especially for a regional area. This hasn’t happened in Mackay before, which is awesome.”
He added, “It’s inspiring to see how hard Mackay players train. We’ve got great facilities here, and hosting games like Australia vs South Africa really shows that.”
Jack Law, aged 16, is equally motivated.
On his ambitions, he said, “I definitely hope to play internationally. I’ll keep working hard to make it to the Australian team… it would be amazing.”
When asked about playing locally, he said, “It’s great to spend a few hours with your mates on the weekend… the facilities are really good and always well maintained.”
Offering advice to other young players, Jack said, “Just come along and make as many friends as possible. Cricket is a team sport, so getting to know people is important.”
Both Jack and Marcus are taking part in pre-season training at the Great Barrier Reef Arena, refining techniques and preparing for the next level.
One of the four academy coaches, Chris Nemitz, said, “We saw a gap between the senior players and the junior competition, so we wanted to create something to keep the kids in the game during the off-season.
“These young men and women are very talented, and the more they play, the better they'll become.”
On the impact of international cricket visiting the region, he added, “There's nothing like seeing live cricket.
“Watching international players here shows the skill and effort required to reach that level – the things you just don’t see on TV.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for the kids and young adults to learn and be inspired.”
Female cricketer Kiana Dunn, one of the few girls’ in the academy, is making the most of the experience.
“It's just fun. I love fielding, batting, bowling—it's great to be with friends doing something we all love.”
Her advice to other young players is to, “Just have fun, enjoy it, and play as long as you can.”
“The international games will be really good—getting to see all the experienced players, talking to them about how they got there, what they did, and how we can learn from them. And of course, just watching some really good cricket,” she said.
With world-class cricket taking place on local grounds, the next generation of international stars could very well be nurtured right here in our own region, turning opportunity into reality on Mackay’s pitches.
Mackay’s U20 cricketers are sharpening their skills, with local grounds shaping the next generation of international stars. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara
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