Six young cricketers from the Goulburn and Crookwell region were recently selected to represent the ACT Southern Districts side in the Kookaburra (Under 14’s) and Bradman (Under 16’s) Cups which have taken place over the last week, in which they finished third and eighth respectively.
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Local cricket coach Garry Mortimer, who has worked with many of the kids selected, said that it was all the more impressive considering the sheer weight of numbers in Canberra’s favour.
“Goulburn [and] Crookwell combined have got about seven and a half percent of the population of Canberra, and between us we’ve got a bit over 30 per cent of the squad,” he said.
Following the conclusion of the tournament, the coaching staff of the Under 14’s side said that it had been a successful carnival for the region, considering they won three out of five games and only lost to the teams that came first (Central Coast) and second (North Coastal).
They added that, following the reshaping of the zone, the result was a vindication that the new zone is working.
The six cricketers selected are:
Blake McCarten (Under 16’s)
A player with serious prospects, Blake is a batsman and backup wicketkeeper for the ACT Southern Districts side who is a “legitimate” player in Mortimer’s opinion.
Chris Duffy (Under 16’s)
A talented batsman who is fresh off a strong Elite Under 19’s campaign, Mortimer said that what stands out about Duffy is his mentality.
“He’s nature’s gentleman. He’s a future leader, he’s got absolutely incredibly leadership skills.”
Cameron Herd (Under 14’s)
A talented legspinning allrounder, Herd has a lot of experience for somebody his age. With a career batting average of nearly 27 and a bowling average of just over 10, Herd is already proving himself a cricketer of serious quality.
Sean Ward (Under 14’s)
A lower-middle order batsman, Ward has already proven that his powers of concentration are above average. With only 942 runs in 68 matches but an average of 43, the youngster is able to bat time, and is also a handy bowler capable of opening.
Patty Craig (Under 14’s)
An allrounder who bats in the middle order and bowls handy left arm offspin, Craig is a valuable asset to any side. His average of 32 with the bat and 14 with the ball belie a reliability which captains value.
Abdul Kareem (Under 14’s)
Another legspinning allrounder, Kareem was called in as a replacement to the ACT Southern Districts side, but has already gone about making his presence felt at the top of the order with a handy knock of 17.
