CRICKET Southern Lakes has formalised a partnership with Manly Warringah District Cricket Club which promises to open pathways for talented local cricketers to progress to Sydney grade cricket and beyond.
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CSL president Aaron Gray said officials from the Toronto-based club had been impressed by Manly’s facilities, club mantra, and coaching philosophies.
“Both clubs can see the mutual benefit to working together in fostering and developing the best youth in our region and providing them an opportunity to link up with a progressive Sydney-based club,” Gray said.
Manly had a strong record in developing talented young players, he said.
“Manly had four representatives in the NSW under-19s at the national championships last month. It matches similar efforts when we had three represent NSW/ACT at the same carnival two years ago with Andrew Somerville, Griffin Lea and Peter McCredie all in that team from our club.”
The Toronto Academy of Cricket Excellence (TACE) program would be “re-invented” as part of the partnership, Gray said.
“The TACE program has been in operation since 2012, initially the brainchild of life members Mike Mackenzie and David Howe.
“The new concept will include coaching philosophies consistent with both the CSL and Manly clubs, a weekend camp, and interaction with Manly’s best players and coaches, including Test player Steve O’Keefe, Australian and Sydney Thunder player Chris Green, and former NSW captain, Thunder assistant coach and current Manly coach, Shawn Bradstreet.”
Manly vice-president David Gainsford said his club was excited to join forces with CSL.
“The CSL club has led the way in their region for some time with their junior development programs, and we are very happy to come on board,” Gainsford said.
“This concept aligns with our own country pathway policy and provides an opportunity for young elite cricketers to come from country areas to be part of this development program and try their hand at progressing to Sydney cricket, which is obviously an opportunity to go on and play for NSW and Australia.”
The new look TACE program will be launched in February.
Participants will wear a hybrid shirt design, and there will be co-branding of the entire program.
Gray said TACE will be available for young aspiring cricketers to attend, even if they are not registered to play with CSL.
“It’s a development program for all players at any level, aged between 11 and 21, with skills from entry level to the elite,” Gray said.
“Our partnership with Manly offers a pathway to the highest level if players choose to progress down that path.”
Other commitments in the partnership deal include sharing players for approved competitions such as the AW Green Shield (under-16s) and Poidevin Gray (under-21s) with Manly, and the first grade T20 competition for CSL.
The partnership will see two Manly-Warringah players, big-hitting brothers Adam and James Crosthwaite, join the Kookaburras when they take on Waratah-Mayfield in their opening match of the NCC Summer Bash (Twenty-20 competition) this Thursday.
Adam is a former Adelaide Strikers, South Australian and Victorian wicket-keeper, while James is the current back-up wicket-keeper for former Test player Peter Neville in the Sydney Sixers Big Bash League (BBL) franchise.
