Randall Woodley
After months of preparation, planning and training, the Sunshine Coast Cricket Association 2022-23 cricket season officially commences next Saturday 17 September.
The first ball to be bowled at Read Park will be at 1.30pm in the T20 Match involving the local club, Tewantin-Noosa Thunder First Graders and the Nambour Cutters.
After a barbecue, the First-Grade boys will then play the Glasshouse Rangers in another T20 match starting at 6pm under the lights. The Thunder team was undefeated last season in this format of the game and will be keen to repeat their success this season.
Most of last season’s all-conquering team will be lining up next Saturday and the captain, Jake Dennien, is confident the players will be in a good position to show their skills and continue on their winning way.
The bar and canteen will be open in the afternoon and night.
Other senior grades will begin their season on September 24 while the junior fixtures will start on Saturday 1 October. Captains and grades will be announced in the coming days.
Training is held each Tuesday and Thursday nights. Juniors start at 4pm and Seniors at 5.15pm. New players are always welcome to come down to the nets and have a hit.
This season also sees the return of a Tewantin-Noosa women’s team and an all-girls team in what is hoped to be a successful new junior girls’ league.
Grounds and facilities
Each of the club’s playing fields are in great condition, despite the ongoing and unseasonal wet weather over the last few months.
Temporary change rooms have been installed on site at Dale Officer Oval by Noosa Shire Council. These will be used by players until the new clubhouse is constructed.
In the very near future the synthetic pitch at Mat Thornhill Oval will be resurfaced. Huge thanks to the Tewantin-Noosa RSL for donating much needed funds to get this project underway.
The replacement sight screens for Dale Officer Oval will be delivered soon and installed, hopefully for the first matches for lower grades.
The grass on the new pavilion area has taken hold and greened up as well as the extended turfed area either side of the clubhouse.
These improvements will allow much better viewing for the spectators at the matches.
Over 60s World Cup
This championship is being played at present on the Sunshine Coast and the local television stations are showing highlights most evenings.
Last Saturday, the Australian Team won their fourth match in a row, defeating Wales in their 45 overs match. They play Pakistan in a semi-final on Monday.
Other teams playing in the competition are New Zealand, USA, Canada, West Indies, India, Sri-Lanka, Rest of the World and South Africa.
Matches, semi-finals and grand final will be played this week.
