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Students bowled over by State cricket stars

Posted on October 24, 2011

By VINNIE RODI

SEVERAL of Sunraysia’s school students have been treated to a special cricket clinic this week, with two of the country’s rising cricketing superstars, Glenn Maxwell and Elyse Villani, on hand to teach locals the basics of the game.

HOWZAT! Victorian cricketers Elyse Villani and Glenn Maxwell with Ranfurly Primary School grade four students Fletcher Collins and Demi Hallam.

In town to promote Cricket Victoria’s MILO in2CRICKET program, Glenn and Elyse – who are both current State representatives with the Victorian Bushrangers and VicSpirit teams – spent two days in town entertaining students at both Mildura West Primary School and Ranfurly Primary School, while also joining Sunraysia’s Under 14 and Under 16 representative cricket teams for a training session on Monday night.

Glenn and Elyse said their trip to Mildura, while short, had proved extremely worthwhile, with the pair relishing the opportunity to work with the region’s rising cricket stars.

“It’s been great mixing with all of the kids,” Glenn said. “These types of programs are fantastic for our sport, and it’s always a lot of fun getting to visit places like Mildura.”

Offered to children aged between 5 and 10, the MILO in2CRICKET program aims to kick-start cricketing careers in a safe and enjoyable environment.

The main aim is to promote fun and fitness, while also passing on the basic skills of the game.

Held during the cricket season, the program is run at the club level over a six to 12 week period. Conducted by trained volunteers, both Glenn and Elyse said the program was a great way to introduce youngsters to the sport.

“One of the great things about the program is that everyone is given the opportunity to bat, bowl and field,” Elyse said. “It’s a great way to get involved in the sport, and is a great stepping-stone into playing in higher cricket grades.”

Two of the State’s top cricketers, Glenn started his career with Melbourne-based club Fitzroy-Doncaster. An all-rounder, Glenn broke into Victoria’s limited-overs side briefly in 2009-10, before earning a place in the Bushranger’s Champions League Twenty20 squad for 2010, with his place in that squad coming after an incredible knock in Australia’s One-Day domestic competition.

Coming in at number eight with the Bushrangers 6-157 chasing Tasmania’s 258, Maxwell clubbed the ball to all parts of Bellerive Oval.

By the time he departed for 61 – off just 27 balls – Victoria was on the brink of one of its most memorable wins, with the knock also eclipsing Australian legend David Hookes’ previous domestic fastest-fifty record.

And while his whirlwind innings in Hobart attracted attention, it was Glenn’s first Sheffield Shield century that guaranteed his spot in the Bushrangers’ line-up.
In just his second Shield match – and with Victoria in early trouble at 5-120 – Maxwell stroked a run-a-ball hundred.

He ended up finishing the 2010/11 season with an average of 76, and a One-Day domestic strike rate of 86.

Glenn will look to continue his successful run this season, with the power-hitter to also line up with the Melbourne Renegades in Australia’s revamped KFC Big Bash Twenty20 competition.

It’s a competition that will see the 23-year-old line up with and against international cricket’s biggest names – including Pakistan headline-grabber Shahid Afridi – Glenn said he was looking forward to the challenge.

“I’m really looking forward to the upcoming Big Bash league,” he said. “There’s been a lot of interest in the competition, and I think cricket lovers everywhere are really looking forward to seeing some of the best hitters in Australian – and international – cricket go at it.”

For VicSpirit and Southern Stars representative, Elyse Villani, her rise to the top has been nothing short of fast-paced, with the Victorian opening batsman known for her big-hitting ability.

It’s been her clean-hitting and great timing over the past few years that has made Elyse one of the players to watch in Australian women’s cricket, with her talent helping her make the grade for Australia’s Under 21 team.

Having opened the batting for Victoria for the past few seasons, Elyse amassed 214 runs during the 2010-11 season, with her 44 against the Southern Scorpions in last season’s final round of the Twenty20 competition helping Victoria secure a spot in the finals against the NSW Breakers.

She also went on to represent Australia at the 2009 ICC Twenty20 World Cup, while also acting as an ambassador for the game.

More information about the MILO in2 CRICKET program is available by visiting www.in2CRICKET.com.au.

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