FOUR Northern Tasmanian junior cricketers have been included in the state squad for the School Sport Australia under-15 championships in Queensland next week.
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South Launceston Cricket Club’s Johnathan Marsden, 15, Westbury’s Kobe Moore, 15, Devonport’s Samuel Omahony and Riverside’s James Simpson will all fly out with the 13-player squad on Saturday.
Tasmania will play six games at venues in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast.
Cricket Tasmania Northern high performance coach Clinton Reid said the tournament would be the first interstate representative competition hit out for many.
“We’ve got a really even team as we bat quite deep and we have seen a lot of improvement since we picked the side – we’re quietly confident we’ll do well,” Reid said.
“The main point of sending this team away is for them to see the talent from around Australia at this age group.
“Barring a couple from the South this will be their first taste of national-level cricket, so they will probably be in for a shock at some point.
“But it is about learning to be able to compete at that level.”
Reid said James was picked based on his performances in the under-14 intrastate cup in January and hoped he would be a two-year state player at this age group.
“I’m looking forward to getting the experience being a bottom-age player,” James said at their final regional training session at NTCA No. 1 Ground on Monday.
Johnathan is a talented wicket-keeper-batsman, who scored an unbeaten 103 for Tasmania in the under-16 intrastate cup, and Kobe bats in the top order.
Samuel is a left-arm opening bowler, who will miss out on playing for Devonport in a grand final this weekend, so he can represent Tasmania.
Games will be played at Brisbane Grammar School, Maroochydore Cricket Club and Caloundra Cricket Club.