With most of the local winter competitions wrapping up this weekend the sporting attention of the Maitland region will soon turn to summer pursuits.
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A few school students were given a head start on Thursday when NSW players Sean Abbott and Peter Pisel arrived at Maitland Park to oversee a gala day as part of a statewide cricket blitz.
“It’s very important to provide these sorts of opportunities to young kids and it’s good to see so many kids out there having a go,” Abbott said.
Students from Morpeth, Metford, Telarah, Thornton and Gillieston Heights public schools were spread out across the outer fields of Maitland Park taking part in a new-style T20 Blast concept.
It is designed to bridge the gap between the established MILO programs and under-10 competition, with modified matches played mid-week using plastic equipment on the outfield.
“I think it’s clear that cricket is a sport for all and has broken away from the perception of being a long and boring game played only on hot weekends,” Cricket NSW regional development manager Neil McDonald said.
Maitland and District Junior Cricket Association wants to introduce the T20 Blast this season.
Abbott and Pisel also visited Nulkaba, Singleton and Newcastle during their three-day tour of the Hunter Valley as the Blues prepare to defend their Sheffield Shield title and go one better in the domestic one-day competition, which starts on October 4.