Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz |
Deep in the depths of winter, Western Bay of Plenty cricket fans have a smile on their face as each sunrise brings the new cricket season a day closer.
The first visible signs of the new season, will emerge in mid August, when the junior Cricket Awareness Program kicks off in Western Bay of Plenty primary schools.
Introduced by Western Bay Cricket a decade ago, the CAP delivers the very basics of the great game to Year 1-4 aspiring players in forty minute sessions, aimed at fun based participation.
The newbie's to the game are first taught how to throw and catch a tennis ball with the emphasis on plenty of fun and laughter. Holding a bat and the mechanics of bowling action are added in incremental stages.
The school based taster, is used to promote NZ Cricket Superstar, which is a weekly entry level programme for new recruits.
The best part of CAP is the absence of any fees to schools or pupils which removes the cost barrier of participating in the program.
Recent years have seen over 5000 youngsters engage in the Western Bay of Plenty Cricket CAP initiative.
The 2021/22 cricket season is looming as a huge year for Western Bay of Plenty cricket fans. The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup will take centre stage late in the season, with the best women's players in the world on show at the Bay Oval.
Opening the month long showcase, will be the White Ferns verses a yet to be found qualifier team at the Bay Oval, on Friday, March 4, 2022. A huge world-wide television audience is certain to watch the competition opener, with the attractions of the Western Bay of Plenty showcased to a wide audience.
While the NZ Cricket international home program is still to be finalised, the success of the Bay Oval Boxing Day test is sure to have been noticed in NZ Cricket headquarters.
The Bay of Plenty senior men's representative team is on the cusp of another Hawke Cup Direct Challenge. In recent years, the Bay team have won the symbol of NZ Cricket minor association superiority on two occasions and repelled eight challenges, before the big prize changed hands again.
With new season planning already well in hand, indications received are that grassroots senior cricket numbers continue to grow, and the Western Bay of Plenty Cricket junior programs will build upon the schools initiative increase in numbers.
There is plenty of Western Bay of Plenty cricket action to look forward to; whether a player, official or fan in the stand, as the clock ticks down to the first ball being bowled in the new season.