Photo Credit: Perth Scorchers
Being part of the Aboriginal Talent Academy has opened doors that young allrounder James Eatt didn’t know existed.
The up-and-coming cricketer missed the metropolitan trials for the Academy last year, but determined to be selected, he drove to Bunbury to put his case forward.
Not long after selection he sustained an injury which hampered most of his pre-season, but he was dedicated to his rehab, and with the support of the Academy he has now made a successful recovery and is back into full training.
As a reward for his effort, he was selected to take part in a money can’t buy experience at the Perth Scorchers BBL Aboriginal Match last week.
Alongside WA National Indigenous Cricket Championships coach Marsh Jackson, he watched the Scorchers on-field warm up from the field of play, mingled with players including Stephen Eskinazi and Liam Haskett, and took part in the pre-match bat flip with Scorchers captain Aaron Hardie and Adelaide Strikers captain Matt Short.
Eatt said being part of the Aboriginal Talent Academy has been a great experience, starting from his trial.
“I felt I left the trial a better cricketer than when I got there,” he said.
“Zoe Goss is the coach of the Academy and it she just worked for about an hour. It was a really great experience being able to pick her brain.
“The first time walking out at the WACA Ground to train was pretty surreal. Having grown up watching cricket there and then being out in the middle myself is pretty cool.
“Everyone in the Academy has been really supportive and I’ve been training the house down, so it has been great.”
The Aboriginal Talent Academy is just one program supported by the WA Cricket Foundation. To find out more about how the Foundation supports Aboriginal Cricket, click here.
