U16 Coach Announced and news

The Club is excited to announce that our senior coach Adil Ali and former senior coach and life member Craig Green will co-coach the Under 16's team this season.

Not sure if any of the other clubs in the competition will go close to the experience these two bring together, which is highlighted below.

Adil brings a lot of knowledge, expertise and experience from his time in the Greater Manchester Premier 1 Division with the Royton Cricket Club, where as a leg spin bowler, he took over 200 wickets in the last 3 seasons.

Adil arrived at the club halfway through the 24/25 season and immediately showed that he has plenty to offer in guiding and mentoring our current and next generation of players to get the most out of their abilities.

On his appointment Adil said "these boys are the key to the future of the club and our future first team. "We want to teach them how to train with a similar mindset of a senior team and I can't wait to give them the attention to improve their cricket."

Craig first coached the club in the season 1989/90 and in more recent times captained the club in the 20/21 season when the club joined the Castlemaine District Cricket Association. In recent times captaining the Victorian Country Veterans 50+ team to two flags. Last year Craig captained many of our juniors in the 4th XI of the Bendigo District Cricket Association. His understanding of cricket in the region and cricket pathways having played in (many moons ago) Hatch (Craig Shield), Dowling Shield, and Victorian School Boys will be of great assistance to those furthering their cricket.

Craig on similar lines to Adil said, "with so many clubs are struggling for junior players, we have an outstanding group of boys within our Maiden Gully community. "This is not just with ability but character. "With what Neil and Adam did last season and many of the boys stepping up from Under 14's already learning the correct ways to play the game, we want to continue that. "Wherever the boys are in their cricket journey the objective is enjoyment, fun, improvement and being long-term members of the club."

At the time of writing, the club is still waiting on decisions from the Bendigo District Cricket Association as whether there will be an Under 16 division 1 and 2 competition. Last year there was only one division and the Club believes it is critical that the competition offers 2 divisions to allow for the various abilities and maturity of players on their cricket journey. We have been told though that Under 16's will be played again on a Wednesday afternoon/evening at the recent junior league meeting.

Once we know player registration numbers, it will determine the number of teams and where the club enter these in the Under 16 age group. The Club though is very adamant that players participate in their correct age group in the first instance before stepping up into another age group if that appeals and depending on numbers. President Craig Green said for those looking to play up an age group, "even if good enough to step up into a higher age group, a player should be able to contribute significantly and do extremely well in their respective age group and play a leadership role in that team. "While participation is critical and giving everyone a fair go, playing against your direct peers in the correct age group will significantly develop your game in the long-term."

An initial training session will be held for Under 14's and Under 16's at the Maiden Gully Recreation ground on Tuesday 16 September from 4.30pm. As requested in surveys we tried to provide additional one-on-one coaching sessions throughout winter and in the last 2 weeks but there has not been significant interest, so we return to home base.

Training for Under 14's and Under 16's longer term is likely to held on a Monday, but with so many teams in the club and a lack of current practice facilities, a final decision on that will be determined shortly.