BATHURST'S best junior cricketers might have the chance to face the next Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kholi as, in a huge boon, the Western NSW Junior Carnivals prepare to welcome India's St John's Academy in January.
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But for final approval from the High Commission of India the touring sides are locked in to make their much-anticipated debut in the 2019-20 edition of both the under-13 and under-15 carnivals.
With New Zealand's Wakatipu High School once again returning as well, the marquee carnivals will continue their rapid global expansion while sides from all over the state will also land.
"It's exciting, they're still waiting on final approval but we don't foresee any issues there and we're obviously hoping it all works out," Orange District Junior Cricket Association president and carnival coordinator Jo Hunter enthusiastically explained.
"The North West Sydney Hurricanes played last summer, they're coming back, and had contacts with the academy who were then really keen to come over and play after they heard about the carnival."
It would appear St John's Academy may well start both carnivals as title favourites too, although being unsighted that's a prediction based on word of mouth, and reputation. They'll start their under-13 campaign against the North Shore and take on Mitchell Cricket Council in their first under-15 game.
"From what I've been told they had more than 300 players try out for these sides, they're selecting teams specifically for the carnivals," Hunter said.
The famed cricket nursery produced Indian great VVS Laxman, the stonewalling top-order bat scored more than 8,000 Test runs from more than 100 appearances, with a highest score of 281.
From what I've been told they had more than 300 players try out for these sides.
- Carnival coordinator Jo Hunter
The Hyderabad-based academy will be one 16 sides in the under-13 carnival and one of 10 in the under 15s, with Wakatipu to compete in the latter carnival. Although Orange has been withdrawn - they'll play in the under-13 carnival, though - they'll still face the Kiwis for the Sharpe-Mawhinney Shield.
"Wakatipu hold the [shield] at the moment and those two teams will play, even though we had to withdraw the Orange under-15 side. Another side pulled out and sadly, all the reserve teams weren't available either, so we wanted to avoid a bye," Hunter said.
"It's a shame but the two sides will still play at Wade Park though, we want to make sure we keep that relationship and rivalry going."
Once again the under-15 girls' carnival will welcome big numbers, with six teams nominated and set to vie for the title, including two Western Zone sides.
The under-13 carnival starts on January 6, with the under-15 boys' and girls' competitions the week after.