More ways to enjoy FOUNDATION TALENT ELITE & MASTERY

Australian Cricket Pathway Backyard to baggy green

cricketaustralia.com.au More ways to enjoy cricket FOUNDATION TALENT ELITE & MASTERY

A pathway for all Cricket is ’s favourite sport; millions enjoy the opportunity to play this great game and rise through its ranks.

Cricket is a sport for all and whether it’s adults clear pathway for them to succeed. While not playing or kids having their first hit, everyone can fulfil the dream of representing having fun is a priority. But we’re also dedicated their country, it’s good to know there is a clear to helping talented players from all backgrounds route from the backyard to the baggy green develop and transition to the next level. and all stages in between.

Over 1.2 million people a year play cricket in So whether you’ve never held a bat, are Australia and benefit from the buzz of hitting desperate to get back into it or have a passing the ball, taking a or grabbing a catch, as interest, there’s never been a better time to well as enjoying the camaraderie of being part start playing Australia’s favourite sport. of a team. I wish everyone luck on their We want all cricketers to have every chance to cricketing journey maximise their cricketing skills and enjoy a successful career. Beginning with our great MILO in2CRICKET and MILO T20BLAST for children and working through different representative levels James Sutherland to the national teams, it should be clear to all players that if they are good enough there is a Cricket Australia CEO

* Cricket Australia National Cricket Census results 2014-15. 1 More ways to enjoy cricket Australian Cricket Pathway FOUNDATION TALENT ELITE & MASTERY Backyard to baggy green

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FOUNDATION

It’s never too soon or too late to get into cricket. Whether you start knocking a ball around with your family and friends or join up with a club and go straight into the game, there are plenty of opportunities to play. Getting moving, learning the skills and playing and competing build strong foundations.

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Learning the skills 5-8 years: MILO in2CRICKET 7-12 years: MILO T20 Blast

It’s never too early to get kids Now the kids have learned how started. The MILO in2CRICKET to bat and bowl, the next step is program aims to develop skills into a game environment and and an enthusiasm for the game that’s where MILO T20 Blast for 5-8 year olds. It has been comes in. MILO T20 Blast is running for over 20 years and is an eight-week program a brilliant activity for young consisting of boys and girls that introduces 90-minute games. fundamental cricket skills. Kids hang out with their friends, It takes place on a small pitch with eight players per make new ones, learn the skills and play in a team. side. Each player gets to bat, bowl, wicket-keep and GET field. While waiting to bat, there’s a Skills Zone The basic skills required for cricket include catching, throwing, where children actively hone their skills. MOVING jumping, running and teamwork and all have wider benefits for children. Playing with bats and balls is a fun way to get kids The kids are getting a chance to emulate their In the early stages, interacting with their environment. heroes in the KFC T20 Big Bash League (BBL) and the focus is on parents Women’s T20 Big Bash League (WBBL). creating opportunities They may even get the chance to play at lunch that get kids moving during a Commonwealth Bank Test match. through a range of fundamental movement skills that are required to be healthy, active and involved in sport. Fun times with family and friends from the neighbourhood in the backyard, at BBQ’s and on the beach.

State & Territory associations conduct playcricket.com.au Entry Level Program coordinator training

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FOUNDATION TALENT ELITE & MASTERY

Junior competition Junior competition Community Representative & regional

School and Club Cricket provide The best juniors will have an opportunities to engage in opportunity to participate in local competition and more specific and regional representative skill development where mastering competitions. The local cricket the basics of cricket are a priority. association or Centre plays a critical role in There’s a game, and a standard, providing appropriate for everyone. Any child can play opportunities for the best junior at a junior cricket club. Local clubs are thriving community hubs that cricketers to compete in local and regional representative competitions. SCHOOL CRICKET provide a great environment for kids from all backgrounds to make The School Sports associations in each state also provide opportunities friends and develop their cricket skills together. There is a range of for cricketers to test their skills against other zones and regions. Indoor In conjunction with formats to suit different skill levels and time commitments with Cricket and School Sport Australia also provide opportunities for the States and Territories, T20 Cricket becoming more and more popular. best cricketers at this level to be exposed to various national and School Sport Australia international playing opportunities in their age group. (SSA) and Cricket The focus is on providing an enjoyable cricket experience and this will Australia are working mean playing at the level that suits their current skill level. Ensuring together to strengthen kids are playing at an appropriate level and in the appropriate game and align the Australian format is critical to providing the right challenges to facilitate their Cricket Pathway. The enjoyment and improvement. best players in schools are identified and Sometimes this means talented selected to compete in players might play with older the National SSA Cricket players. Likewise players just Championships at 12’s starting out, may gain more from and 15’s year age groups. playing with younger players who are of a different age but of the same skill level.

Community (Level 1) accreditation Representative (Level 2) accreditation playcricket.com.au is provided for coaches and umpires community.cricket.com.au is available for coaches and umpires

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FOUNDATION TALENT ELITE & MASTERY

Senior competition Senior competition Community Premier Cricket

Senior clubs are the heart and soul Premier cricket is the of many inclusive communities. home base for Australian There are many different playing cricketers. All talented cricketers standards and formats that can with aspirations to reach the cater for a variety of needs. top will compete for a Premier Whether you are young or young Club. Premier cricket strives at heart there is an opportunity for to deliver the best possible you to play on a regular basis standards of coaching, experiencing all the physical and social benefits that cricket offers. playing facilities and experience of multiple formats to develop State and Australian cricketers. In many cases our best young talent will also be playing in senior level competition and this is seen as a great way to stretch these players to new heights. The senior club players have an important role to play in mentoring these young players.

indoor cricket A host of top-class international players have graced the 100 indoor cricket centres across the country in games that take around an hour to play. There’s competition at state and national level for the best players at both junior and senior level.

Community (Level 1) accreditation is Representative (Level 2) accreditation playcricket.com.au provided for coaches and umpires community.cricket.com.au is available for coaches and umpires

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When cricketers are identified, how do we continually develop a players skills to enable them to reach their potential? Thankfully there’s a clear and attractive pathway for cricketers to maximise their talent.

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Potential is identified Skill & Determination Premier 1sts, national youth National 2nd tier competition competitions & programs & performance program

Cricket’s network of State and Territory In addition to cricket skill – and National Talent staff will identify determination, decision making and the best school and club cricketers. positive self-management are important These players will be challenged elements of a players make up and are further to develop their skills within a key focus at this stage. A greater National Youth competitions. emphasis is placed on the ability of Players at this level will be competing the player to demonstrate both the with Premier Clubs physical and mental skills required. and with State and Territory Youth teams (U15, U17, U19 for males; U15, U18 for females).

In additional National youth programs such as the Australian U16 Team (male) , CA Junior Rookie Program (male) and Talent squads (female) are implemented to further challenge Players will have the and stretch these players. opportunity to undertake intense individualised training programs. Regular high level performances at Premier Cricket and 2nd tier State Team level will be a highlight. Australian U19 Team (male) and the National Performance Squad provide an opportunity to gain touring experience both in Australia and overseas.

High Performance (Level 3) accreditation mycricket.cricket.com.au is available for coaches and umpires

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TALENT ELITE & MASTERY

Strong Performances Breakthrough National senior competitions Australia A & CBA Shooting Stars

This level provides Competition will be fierce within opportunities to taste the the National Senior Competitions conditions and pressures of a (Sheffield Shield, Matador BBQs being a State, BBL or WBBL One-Day Cup, Women’s National Cricket contracted player. Being on a League, BBL and WBBL) and those that full-time program and accessing the perform and contribute to their teams best staff and facilities in preparation on the big stage will be targeted for for possible national representation. Australia A (male) and CBA Shooting Players are tested in all available formats around the country to Stars (female). Performances in these teams provide a breakthrough measure themselves against their peers in the strongest domestic opportunity to Australian Teams. competitions available in world cricket.

Elite coach and umpire opportunities cricketaustralia.com.au are provided through CA and the ICC

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ELITE & MASTERY

Starting out by picking up a bat or a ball, some players will make their way through all the levels and finally the call comes… to be an international cricketer and represent Australia.

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The Baggy Green Australian Teams Australian teams • Australian Men’s Team • Australian Women’s Team Australian Indoor Men’s Team Whether the first cap comes in a • T20, (ODI) or • Australian Indoor Women’s Team a Test match, life will never be the same. • Australian Blind Team But as any great player knows, in some • Australian Deaf Team ways the hard work is just beginning. Australian Team for Players Australian Teams have a proud • with Intellectual Disability history of producing successful, resilient and high quality international players – this is required when the Australian Teams are challenged to perform in many countries’ local conditions. Developing players that can play T20, ODI and is the aim.

There is a great responsibility that comes with playing cricket in Australian teams however the benefits last a lifetime including the opportunity to travel the world and take the game to new heights, living the dreams of Australian boys and girls through a personal contribution that will never be forgotten…

Cricket Australia provides individualised cricket.com.au coach and umpire professional development

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y cricket journey started in the back yard with my younger sister Anna. We used to “M play for hours with our own set of rules.

Once I got a bit older I wanted to get more I was 18 years old when I made my debut for involved in the game so my mum and dad Australia in a T20 international match against signed me up at my local cricket club when I New Zealand. I grew up dreaming of playing was nine years old. I really enjoyed learning the for Australia so to receive my first cap was a skills of the game and playing alongside moment I’ll never forget. I am hugely honoured my teammates. to captain the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars and I hope At high school I played in the Boy’s XI and I that my teammates and I was the first female to play in that competition. inspire the next generation Playing with and against the boys helped to of Australian cricket shape my game and proved a great challenge players and fans. for me. While I was still in high school I made my debut for Victoria. This was a significant step in my development as it provided me with access to a high performance environment, which included specialist coaches and quality facilities. Meg Lanning

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Play anywhere Get back out there A Place for everyone Barbecues, backyards & beaches Return to playing More than one way to enjoy the game More ways to enjoy cricket

While the So you got out for a duck, Coaching MILO in2CRICKET threw the pads away and There’s more to cricket than just playing the game; it offers opportunities for and MILO T20 Blast thought you’d never play fulfilment in a number of ways. Teaching kids at MILO in2CRICKET and MILO T20 offer amazing ways for again? Or maybe you had Blast level might awaken a passion in you to start coaching at junior level. Once kids to get involved in a family and couldn’t you’ve taken the first steps along that path there’s a clear training program to the game, socialise and commit to weekends develop skills so you can teach others and pass on experience picked up on the learn skills, there’s a lot playing for your club? Job . Check out coaches.cricket.com.au for more. to be said for playing got in the way? Or maybe the game whenever there’s a chance and that’s relevant you stopped playing without knowing why? But you know Umpiring whether you’re a kid or an adult. A barbecue isn’t there is some kit somewhere, packed away in the bottom of Alternatively you might think about being an umpire. All sports need good complete without a game of cricket in the backyard the cupboard and the urge to get back to playing is on your officials, whether it’s to look after a junior game or to go through the process or out on the street with a bin as a wicket. Similarly, mind. Perhaps playing with the kids in the back yard has of becoming a top level umpire and getting to the elite level. It’s a thoroughly a trip to the beach should always be made with a reawakened your passion? rewarding way to enjoy the game from the best seat in the house. There’s a ball and a bat. two-level accreditation course to get involved. See cricketumpiring.com.au Then why not get back out there yourself… with shorter for more information. The great thing about games like this is formats of the game, it’s now easier to play than ever. that the whole family can be involved. Dad can be bowling to daughter while son is Volunteering keeping wicket and Mum is at first If coaching and umpiring are not for you, there are other slip... with cousins in the outfield. ways to enjoy the game. Community cricket clubs are always in need of volunteers, so whether it’s helping out with the pitch, making the teas or holding a committee position, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Why not contact your local club and see what you can do?

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