UNFORGETTABLE DAY: St Mary’s Cricketetettes Georgia Edmonstone, Lucy Clarke-Randazzo, Sarah Ziegler, Katie Niven, Emily Haydon, Erin Holmes, Hana O’Keefe and Madeline Menzies.
THERE aren’t many cricketers in the world who can brag that one of their first organised games was played in front of a packed crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
But for eight talented primary school students that’s exactly what’s happened.
The St Mary’s Cricketettes travelled to Sydney on Saturday to play an exhibition game during the lunch break on the third day of the third Test between Australia and Sri Lanka.
The girls - Georgia Edmonstone, Erin Holmes, Madeline Menzies, Lucy Clarke-Randazzo, Emily Haydon, Hana O’Keefe, Katie Niven and Sarah Ziegler - won the right to play by taking out the Orange Milo Schools T20 Blast School Cup.
They were able to do this despite none of them having ever played a game of competitive cricket before.
Katie’s father Fletcher travelled with the girls and was full of praise for their efforts.
“It was a fantastic effort by the girls,” Niven said.
“There was a massive crowd there and the girls just lapped it up and really enjoyed it.”
The day was also the traditional McGrath Foundation Day and Niven said the sea of pink in the crowd only added to the “electric” atmosphere.
“It was a great experience for the girls. The crowd was loud and supportive and I’m sure it’s something they won’t forget,” he said.