Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2019

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WEARERS OF THE BAGGY BLUE WITH STRONG POTENTIAL

Cricket Captain, Portia Ward (12W)

The Brisbane Girls Grammar School 2019 Cricket season has proven to be one of the best in its history, and to paraphrase one of the great cricket anthems, the girls don’t like cricket … oh no, they love it! Introduced to the School’s QGSSSA Sport offerings in 2000, cricket has experienced strong growth in recent years, particularly among students in the younger year levels. In 2019, more than 60 students participated in the Cricket season, with the School fielding five teams. Unlike other sports, in which teams are defined by age group or year level, QGSSSA cricket teams fall into either Divison 1 or 2, with an additional Open or First XI team, aligning with Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket’s junior formats. This allows competitors to play at a level that matches their ability throughout their time at School. The young Open team, with three Year 8 students and more than half the team in Year 10 or below, finished their season in a very competitive fourth place. Most of this team will be together for the next few years, making them well placed for future success. The 1A and 1B teams finished in a tie for third place, defeating strong oponents along the way. The talent of the girls in Division 1 will make selection for next year’s Open team very competitive.

Teams in Division 2 include many girls who were new to cricket, but are now boasting well-honed bowling, batting and fielding skills. The School’s 2A team finished the season in second position in the competition. This is testament to the success of the Division 2 coaching staff in developing these young cricketers. With large numbers of cricketers in Years 7 to 9, the School anticipates strong growth in the coming years as girls continue to improve their skills and game ability, and grow in fitness and strength. In 2018, current Year 8 students, Erin Appleyard (8W) and Amreen Kahlon (8B), represented Metropolitan North in the winning team at the 10-12 Years Girls Cricket State Championships. Amreen was also selected to represent Queensland in the National Competition, held in Western Australia in December, where the team lost narrowly to Western Australia in the grand final match. The manner in which the cricketers have conducted themselves throughout the season has been exemplary, with all girls approaching their matches with a spirit of generosity, respect and fun. We look forward to continued growth and development in the School’s young cricket side.

GRAMMAR GAZETTE