Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Players set to visit schools, clubs and community groups across the Thunder Nation in three-day regional engagement tour
Kids throughout the Thunder Nation will get to meet some of their cricketing heroes this week when players from Sydney Thunder’s WBBL and BBL teams, travel far and wide encouraging youngsters to play and love cricket.
The Country Blitz, Cricket NSW’s annual three-day regional engagement tour, has been an online event for the past two years but will return to face-to-face activities from August 29-31, with 37 elite cricket players – 11 of them from Sydney Thunder – visiting schools, clubs and community groups from Kingscliff to Newcastle and Merimbula, and out to places like Albury, Narromine and Tamworth.
All up the Thunder players will visit 55 schools, clubs and community events in 24 towns throughout six regions – the Murrumbidgee, Riverina, Southern Inland/South Coast, Central West, Far West and Shoalhaven.
Kids will be able to try fun and friendly cricket activities, meet their heroes and sign up to play cricket this summer.
Players will also visit the Illawarra as part of the NSW Blues’ Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia in Wollongong that begins on October 31.
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Included amongst those players visiting the six regional areas in the Thunder Nation are Australian representative Hannah Darlington, along with rising stars such as Ollie Davies, Jason Sangha and Phoebe Litchfield.
Litchfield, who was born and raised in Orange before moving to Sydney to pursue a cricket career that has since seen her play for Australia ‘A’ as a teenager, said the impact the Country Blitz could have was huge.
“Coming from the country myself, I have experienced how awesome it is for young girls and boys from regional areas when they get to meet some of their heroes that may not make it out to their towns very often,” Litchfield said.
“The Country Blitz gives kids an opportunity to try cricket and sign up for a club for this summer.
“Cricket for kids these days is so much fun, it’s shorter than it was, even when I played juniors a few years ago, and families don’t have to spend all day at the oval.”
Head of Thunder, Andrew Gilchrist, said country areas made up a big part of the Thunder Nation.
“Sydney Thunder has always had a very strong connection to the regional areas in the Thunder Nation and we have built a solid fanbase all over the state,” Gilchrist said.
“This year we will play both WBBL and BBL in Canberra, as well as our massive New Year’s Eve match against the Hobart Hurricanes at Lavington Sports Ground in Albury.
“We are also taking a free Junior Super Clinic to Albury as part of the Country Blitz where we hope to inspire more people to play and love cricket.”
Four Thunder BBL and WBBL players will help host the FREE Junior Super Clinic at QEII Square (Dean Street, Albury) on Tuesday 30 August (4:00-5:30pm).
BBL stars Jason Sangha and Ollie Davies will be joined by WBBL players Hannah Darlington and Lauren Smith to help youngsters enjoy a variety of fun cricket games designed to suit all levels.
Sydney Thunder WBBL|08 Home Fixtures
Fri 14 Oct | Thunder v Hurricanes | Blacktown International Sportspark | 3:00pm
Sun 16 Oct | Thunder v Scorchers | Blacktown International Sportspark | 5:00pm
Tue 18 Oct | Hurricanes v Thunder | Blacktown International Sportspark | 7:05pm
Wed 2 Nov | Thunder v Sixers | Blacktown International Sportspark | 7:05pm
Tue 15 Nov | Thunder v Renegades | Manuka Oval | 7:10pm
Sun 20 Nov | Thunder v Strikers | North Sydney Oval | 5:15pm
Sydney Thunder BBL|12 Home Fixtures
Tue 13 Dec | Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars | Manuka Oval | 7:15pm
Fri 16 Dec | Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 8:15pm
Tue 27 Dec | Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat | Sydney Showground Stadium | 7:15pm
Sat 31 Dec | Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes | Lavington Sports Ground | 3:30pm
Sun 8 Jan | Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 7:15pm
Fri 13 Jan | Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 6:30pm
Thu 19 Jan | Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades | Manuka Oval | 7:15pm
