A cricketing crash course is under way in Footscray as part of the area’s first all-girls cricket program.
Melbourne Renegades player Matt Short was recently on hand at the first of six In2Cricket sessions at Merv Hughes Oval, teaching girls the finer points of the game.
The sessions, part of Maribyrnong council’s Active Maribyrnong sports program, coincide with a new grants program aimed at getting more juniors into cricket.
The Cricket Victoria-funded Active Maribyrnong Junior Cricket Participation Grants Program is cutting new club registration fees for juniors by 75 per cent as well as providing $40 cricket clothes allowances for families with health care cards.
Maribyrnong mayor Grant Miles expects the grants to boost junior cricket.
“Council is proud to be supporting junior cricketers and increasing participation in sport and recreation within the City of Maribyrnong,” he said.
“Physical activity plays a vitally important role in community life and council’s long-term plan is to foster a vibrant and active community.”