Cricket is Australia’s favourite summer sport, where across the country over 1.2 million participants play the sporting code in some form.
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Young, this upcoming 2015/2016 cricket season, has a total of eight teams in action.
However all eyes are on one team in particular: The Young Phoenix.
The Young Phoenix is the newest team to be launched in Young and it’s a team like no other and sure to be one of the major talking points this coming season where so much is happening and changing on the cricketing landscape.
After working with the assistance agencies the Young Phoenix, led by the Young & District Cricket Association president Brendon Meynell, have a number of at- risk youth on their side.
These are players who have struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness and had their fair share of run-ins with the local police.
The players have turned their focus to training three times a week ahead of this upcoming season rather than continue down the pathways their lives were taking them on.
According to Meynell, drugs and alcohol have become a thing of the past.
“The players, once doing all they could to get their next addictive hit now spend their time practicing their shots, bowling and various fielding drills as they prepare to take on players from Cootamundra, Temora and here in Young under the new competition,” he said.
“The entire team realise the opportunities they have been given - how this has helped to turn their lives around - and have decided to go one better in banding together to help others launch what they call a ‘Funds for Runs’ campaign.”
But they can’t do this alone.
The general public are asked to donate as little as one cent per run the team scores this season and, at the completion of the season, all money collected will be donated to a selected charity.
However, before helping others, the Young Phoenix need the help of local businesses.
The Commercial Hotel have come on board and covered the associated registration and insurance fees, but being such a new club - unlike the seven established Young-based teams - the Phoenix currently do not have a team kit.
For the past three months of training they have been sharing just three players kits.
It is hoped local businesses will see the good work the team and its players have done and will contribute whatever they can for the purchase of a team kit which includes protective equipment that will be used each match.
“No matter what you can offer to donate towards the cause or if you are interested in filling one of the final few spaces on the team please call me on 0401 568 187,” Meynell said.
As for the Coyotes and Young Services Club Blues, they will once again do battle in Cowra’s Sportspower Cup, where last season they finished first and second respectively in both the one day and Twenty20 competitions.
Meanwhile, six teams will be taking part in the local South West Slopes Cricket League - made up of the Delta Agribusiness Premier League and Dunk Insurance Cup - as well as competing locally for the McDonald Signs and Print One Day Cup and Commercial Hotel T20 Championship.