IT won't just be slick batting and sharp catches the Bathurst District Junior Cricket Association representative teams will bring to their campaigns this season - they'll be looking slick and sharp as well.
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First the first time ever, Bathurst's junior representative sides will be wearing full colours.
BDJCA president Steve Cain said the idea behind the new uniforms was to both create a feeling of cohesion across all representatives sides - the senior Bathurst team will wear full colours as well - and create some excitement ahead of the 2021-22 season.
"They see it on television all the time, people playing in full colours, and I thought 'Why not, let's try it?' It's just a fun idea, they'll feel better playing in colours, it will be good to see," Cain said.
"The seniors are exactly the same, the style, the shirts, everything. That's great because the kids look up to those guys.
"The 12s look up to the 14s, the 14s look up to the 16s and the 16s look up to the opens. So it's just a fantastic thing to have a kid that's 11 or 12-years-old wearing the same kit as the opens, it's a great feeling for them. I think the opens guys are pretty chuffed about it as well."
The representative season starts this Sunday for the Bathurst under 12, under 14 and under 16 teams.
Cain said it was no easy task for selectors to finalise those teams given the strong turn out to the representative trials last month.
While some players were unlucky to miss out, those that will wear the green and gold bring plenty of talent.
"We ended up with a lot of kids trying out, there are six of us that are selectors for the district team and it's been one of the hardest, most difficult jobs in all age groups to select the teams," Cain said.
"It's a pity we can't pick all of them, that's how cricket goes, but the standard was very, very good and it's a pleasing sign for Bathurst cricket."
The Andrew Larnach coached under 12s and Matt Stephen's under 14s team will be playing in the Central West Cricket Council competition.
They'll open their campaign with away matches against Orange, while Dubbo, Mudgee and in the case of the under 14s a Central West girls outfit, are their other rivals.
It is a little different for the Greg Innes coached Bathurst under 16s. In move designed to give them a longer representative program than last summer, they will play in a Western Zone competition.
That division includes Bathurst, Orange, Mudgee, a pair of Dubbo sides and a Lachlan Cricket Council representative outfit.
Innes' side will also start their campaign with an away match in Orange this Sunday.
"In 12s and 14s Orange definitely is the rival, in 16s it's a little bit different, Dubbo is obviously out of the Central West [Council boundary] so Dubbo will probably be our main rivals in 16s this year, one of our most competitive games.
"We'll see if Greg can get his 14s from last year to win as 16s, there are a few older 16s there that will be handy for that team as well.
"The 16s draw last season was only two rounds, fortunately this season is a lot bigger and a lot better. It's going to be great for the boys, the coaches and all the parents, it's fantastic times for cricket."
- BATHURST UNDER 12s: Ned Anderson, Max Clements, Will Clements, Beau Ditchfield, Clem Gentle, Buster Goninan, Connor Hobby, Beau Larnach, Luke Muir, Matthew Pearce, Zayne Rippard, Will Roffe, Lochlan Shoemark, Salman Wally.
- BATHURST UNDER 14s: Jayden Brasier, Blayde Burke, Ethan Kovac, Grayson Jacobsen, Gilby Glawson, Liam King, Riley Larnach, William Morehead, Kobe Muir, Callum Munns, Lachlan Munns, Cooper Stephen, Flynn Waddell, Ali Wally.
- BATHURST UNDER 16s: Rupert Begg, Connor Brown, Liam Cain, Mac Hutchings, Eli Morris, Ruben Newton, Seth Norris, Charlie Rendall, Mark Sheather, Murray Staines, Hugh Taylor, Mitchell Wallace, Kayne Veney.
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