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SCG CRICKET TEAM HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Our Year 7 Cricket Team competed for the first time at Fairburn Park on Monday 22 March and defeated Creekside College and Braybrook College to secure the title.
2021 has begun with history in the making as we established our very first SCG Cricket team. Headed by Michael Pell, the Head of Sport (7-12), the team's formation speaks to the synergy between our staff and students, and the positive collaborations that take place across our school. "The students deserve the credit for beginning the initiative," Michael said, "and as such, the Year 9/10 and Year 7 team was formed." Cricket trials and auditions were popular with students as many tried out for the team during the first weeks of term, something Michael believes speaks to the popularity of the sport in our school community.
Having finalised the team in week 8 of Term 1, the Year 7 students competed for the first time on Monday 22 March at Fairburn Park in Ascot Vale at the Year 7 Interschool Sports competition against Creekside College and Braybrook Secondary College. They defeated Creekside College by 12 runs and Braybrook Secondary College by 20 runs to secure the Title.
Coaching and leading Southern Cross Grammar's first Cricket team speaks to Michael's passion for the game, his family roots and vivid memories of his childhood playing Cricket with his father and younger brother. "Many of my childhood memories involve playing Cricket in the backyard, going to or watching Cricket on TV and being around my local club playing all summer long. So watching students' try out for the team, train, and compete has brought back many wonderful memories from my childhood."
Also assisting with coaching the Cricket team is David Wildsmith, the Head of Year 5/6 and 8/9. David too, grew up playing Cricket and has played representative Cricket at state level and competitive Cricket at both Premier and Sub-District levels. “It has been a pleasure to watch the interest in Cricket at SCG grow over the years to the point that we have not only one but a number of very competitive teams across multiple year levels,” he said. "I am very passionate about the game and look forward to working with students who share my passion into the future."
Like David and Michael, Amaan A. and Simar Tokhi, both members of the Year 7 team, began playing the game as young children with their families and are excited to be part of SCG's Cricket team. "My whole family plays Cricket and my older brother inspired me to play," Simar said.
Their highlight so far in their Cricketing venture at SCG has been having the opportunity to play Cricket with their school friends and learn from David and Michael.
At Southern Cross Grammar we encourage our students to connect with their local clubs and teams, and in doing so, foster close relationships in their communities and apply their learning from SCG in broader ways across the community in preparation of life as SCG Alumni and Graduates.
As such, both Amaan and Simar play Cricket in our local community as members of the Caroline Springs Cricket Club, and have done so for six years. With our first team of SCG Cricketers being history makers in their own right, the team's formation and accomplishments so far speaks more broadly to the generosities our staff have shown in mentoring students, especially in their adolescent years as they navigate their way into adulthood.
At a time where we seek to support young boys in becoming good men, having a team led by committed staff shows how good modelling leads to good students and graduates who lead our school, and wider community, in positive ways.
