Winter Junior Cricket competition hits Perth

While traditionally a summer sport, the interest in playing cricket over the winter months has been incredibly strong with over 1000 expressions of interest received from a recent WA Cricket survey. 

Aided by good weather, collaboration with local councils for grounds access and a continuing group of passionate parent volunteers, the competition comprises teams across three blended age groups, with both boys and girls participating.  

With traditional community clubs taking a well-earned break during the off-season, the WA Cricket competitions team took on additional tasks of placing players into teams and sourcing equipment for kit bags.  

“We’ve had so many families reach out to us where their love of cricket means they just want to keep playing and often traditional winter sports didn’t appeal to their children,” WA Cricket Community Cricket Support Services Manager Tom Atkinson said.  

“With the assistance of Cricket Australia funding, we were able to quickly get a viable competition off the ground and the results have been fantastic.”  

An added bonus has been the strong participation of multicultural communities, with a large portion of players and volunteers coming from sub-continental cricket loving families. 

While initially nominations to join a full team of players were sought, players from around Perth who nominated individually and placed in a team encouraged new connections and friendships to form. 

Some teams saw players from as many as six different community clubs come together and play cricket. 

With the competition focused on participation and inclusivity, as well as providing further development for community players, strong growth is expected in coming years as winter cricket becomes a regular feature.  

Players are still able to register and be placed in a team if there is space available, please click the link to register and a WA Cricket staff member will be in touch with you.