Capping off a Mighty Season of Cricket

The weekend win against Marist College capped off a wonderful season for the mighty 9/10A's. Coaches Andy and Sam were lauded for their guidance, expertise, patience and input at training and during the games. Their willingness to work with the boys on improving and offering guidance where needed, including regularly and voluntarily staying later for extended training sessions helped gain the respect of the boys across the season, and they are all much better for it.

Following the last game, the team huddled with Andy and Sam and Captain Lincoln Birt said a few words to the team expressing how this would be the last time a lot of them would play together, being a joint 9/10 team which will be redefined next year. He thanked his team for the season, one where they had great success and competed well in every round, and reiterated how much they enjoyed playing and getting to know each other. It was a bitter sweet moment for them all.

There were so many highlights during the season - and they're not about the results of the game but more about how the team played the game:

• The unbelievable cheering from the team when Will How hit a massive six onto the roof of the change rooms at Norths. For Will, it was amazing but the pure look of joy on each of his team mates faces as they celebrate with him was something special.

• Hamish Turnbull's century - which in itself was a phenomenal batting innings - but the support and cheering from the team from the sidelines, with the team needing 2 runs for victory, and Hamish needing 3 runs for his ton, and with about 3 minutes left before needing to be off the field, and the absolute unselfish batting of Lincoln to block out an over to allow (and have confidence in) his teammate Hamish to hit a boundary to not only win the game but get his first century in the process was something quite special to witness.

• The continued laughter and enjoyment from a simple task of running out water bottles to the batters in the middle between overs, that turned into a competition over who could be out and back fastest, all cheered on by their team mates on the sidelines and the batters themselves. A simple act that lightened the atmosphere in tense moments.

• The discussion and decision between Noah and Will as they padded up, the two opening batters, as to who would take the strike. Both very cognisant of when the other's mojo wasn't quite there, and happy to take the heat of the first ball as a result. Selfless men of courage.

• At the final game, a moment captured on camera of all the boys with their coach, sitting together in their self formed grandstand cheering on whoever was batting at the time, all focussed on their team mates success. Some batters had already been dismissed, but they didn't dwell on their own performance, but instead focussed on their team's success (and not a device in sight!!).

This team and group of boys have formed something quite special. Not defined by their year level but by their love of the game of cricket and their genuine joy of being with and playing cricket together as mates. At every game, it was apparent how much they enjoyed being around each other and playing not only with each other but more importantly FOR each other.

So often in sport these days you see boys playing for themselves, however it was so apparent each and every one of these boys were playing for each other, for the team. Their supporting of each other on the field - for both the good and bad aspects, the cheering from outside the boundary when their mates do well with the bat, and even (when the timing is right) the joking and banter with each other after someone gets out and the stupid shot they played to get themselves out, or how the simple act of running out the water bottles between overs to their batters in the middle became a friendly competition, enjoyed by the whole team - demonstrates tremendous strength of character, and most importantly, the fine gentlemen they are becoming.

They represented the College and themselves at a very high level. Parents and staff are very proud of them all. We look forward to the 2025 season of great cricket!

Photo credits Craig Taylor.