James Cozens in the Scorchers blow up batting cage.
The Scorchers regional roadshow came to Esperance last Wednesday, offering kids an opportunity to test out their cricket skills.
A rotation of activities were set up and about 40 kids batted, bowled and fielded under the supervision of WA Cricket and Scorchers team members.
The afternoon was all about showing kids what cricket was all about and encouraging them to get involved according to Great Southern and Esperance manager Jarrod Hansen.
The Perth Scorchers van has visited 15 towns in regional WA the last month as part of the Scorchers Regional Roadshow from Kalabari to Esperance.
Building enthusiasm
Esperance Junior Cricket Association president Josh Sullivan came along to the Scorchers Regional Roadshow last week to support the kids having a go on the field.
As registrations for this year’s cricket season are now open, Mr Sullivan said he hoped through giving it a go, kids would be encouraged to sign up.
“We are struggling for numbers down here,” Sullivan said.
“In the under 17s last year we only had nine kids.”
Mr Sullivan said the Scorchers community “come and try” sessions were important to give kids a start in cricket, whether they decided to take it on or not.
“It’s the whole idea of getting kids that are a little bit unsure of having to play a different sport to come and have a try,” he said.
“If we get two more kids out of it, that’s good.”
The biggest problem contributing to the lack of enthusiasm for cricket in Esperance, according to Mr Sullivan, is the town’s isolation.
“We have trouble getting high profile people to come down for these sorts of things,” he said.
“If we could get someone like Mitch Marsh to come down the crowd would be three times the size.
“If you’re 200 kilometres from Perth you can do that. You can get them. But that’s just our biggest issue.”
Sullivan said the Cricket Association could only do what they can do and the turn out for the Scorchers’ event was a positive sign for the season ahead.
Esperance’s junior cricket season begins on October 26 for under 11s and under 14s.
Cricket blast for ages 5-10 begins on the same day and ages 17 and under commence on October 30.
For more information or to register, people may head to the Esperance Junior Cricket Association’s website or Facebook page.
Sullivan said the Association would have a stall at the Esperance Agricultural Show and looked forward to talking to the public.
