By Nick Creely
The Endeavour Hills Cricket Club will be the official host of a Melbourne Stars Away Game Live Site, with the club’s recent application to host the event a success.
The match against Adelaide Strikers – which will occur on Tuesday 9 January at the club’s home base at Sydney Pargeter Reserve – is the perfect opportunity to connect with the local community, and create a partnership with the Big Bash league franchise, according to club president Jay Stent.
“This partnership between the Melbourne Stars and Endeavour Hills is a great opportunity to expose the club to the local community, to show them they have a senior and junior cricket club and an excellent cricket facility,” he said.
“We want to show our community that we are an inclusive club that reflects the many cultures of the district we represent.
“Hopefully, it was also allow us the opportunity to recruit new junior and senior players, as well as gauging interest in the possibility of forming a women’s cricket team.”
On the evening of the match, the Melbourne Stars will send out a team to the club bringing with them a huge LED screen for the Stars fans to watch the match, as well as bringing the Stars Truck and the club’s mascot, Starman. There will also be plenty of activities for the kids as well as giveaways, food and drink.
And Stent is hopeful the local community get behind the Stars and there is a big turn out.
“The event allows the Melbourne Stars to further connect with local communities and to give local children and adults a ‘big’ team to identify with and support in what is an exciting and entertaining competition,” Stent said.
On field this season, the Eagles are slowly rebuilding their list after some tough years in the first XI, but have shown some promising signs across the grades under coach Richard Saniga and captain Brad Baptist.
“We have demonstrated encouraging performances against strong sides highlighted by the efforts of our younger players,” Stent said.
“English import, Harry Johnson, has scored nearly 300 runs including a wonderful 160 against Box Hill, Nilo Perera has been consistent with both bat and ball, while Alistair Reed, Durrant Murrian, Blaize Bainbridge, Kumbu Jayasundera and Ben Law have all show they have the skills to play at this level.
“In the lower grades we have seen some great performances from young players David Charman, Daniel Cameron, Tyrell and Kusal Panditharatne and Sach Weerasingha.
“These players will no doubt get their opportunity in the firsts before the year is over.”
