Image 1: Mackay Whitsunday girls Back L-R Kelsey Waldon, Sorayah Cross, Matilda Faulkner. Front L-R Matilda Wiggins, Kiana Dunn, Jade Gersch
Image 2: Mackay Whitsunday players joined forces with Central Queensland players to form the Central Infernos. Photos supplied
A group of young cricketers from the Mackay Whitsunday and Central Queensland zones recently formed to represent the Central Infernos at the Queensland U15 Female State Cricket Challenge, led by Coach Paul Anderson and Assistant Coach and Paul’s daughter Ella of Mackay.
The U15 Central Infernos squad was selected from a carnival pitting Mackay Whitsunday, Central Queensland, North Queensland and Far North Queensland against each other, with Queensland Cricket selecting the Infernos from the Mackay Whitsunday and Central Queensland teams.
Kelsey Waldon, Jade Gersch, Kiana Dunn, Matilda Faulkner, Matilda Wiggins and Sorayah Cross were selected from Mackay Whitsunday with Paul and Ella in the coaching positions.
The Infernos came up against teams from north Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, the Darling Downs and Gold Coast and, despite winning one of five games, Paul said all players stood up to the task.
“They all played well and above what we expected from them, so they all tried their best and improved over the carnival,” he said.
“They all showed potential and all did something outstanding.”
Paul has coached at similar cricket carnivals for the last five years and said the quality of cricket has improved every year.
“This year, people were hitting a lot more boundaries, hitting sixes, the total scores teams were posting were much higher than in previous years, so the girls are certainly learning to play cricket in a more positive way,” he said.
18-year-old Ella came through the pathways system herself, playing at her first carnival at age 14 and filling the role of Assistant Coach at the last two carnivals.
“She really connects with the girls on a player level having been at the carnival before,” said Paul.
“She’s a good role model to have there for the younger girls and they really respect her input, and she respects them as well.
“It’s a really good thing to see those girls who have played in the pathway and are now coming back and taking up a coaching role.”
The official representative cricket calendar has wrapped up for 2022 with more games to be played in the new year.
“There’s certainly a lot of girls and women that want to play more representative cricket so we’re trying to organise some more games between Mackay Whitsunday and Central Queensland,” said Paul.
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