Two North Bundaberg Cricket Club players were given a surprise when they received a call from Australian Cricket bowler Michael Neser to congratulate the club with exciting news.
Taking the call recently, Matthew Parker and Ned Jenner were gobsmacked when they found themselves chatting to the bowling allrounder during his debut Test in Adelaide.
Michael shared the news that the club had been successful in its grant application to receiving funding from the Grassroots Cricket Fund.
The Grassroots Cricket Fund (GCF) was established by Australian cricketers to strengthen grassroots cricket for generations to come by committing up to $30 million from player payments to be invested to support and strengthen Australian community cricket.
North Bundaberg Cricket Club junior coordinator Gail Pimm said the lads thought they would be speaking with an Australian Cricket representative, and were thrilled when they saw who was on the other end of the video call.
“They didn’t actually know they’d be talking to him,” Gail said.
“Cricket Australia liked our story so much they arranged for Michael to call with the news – it was really awesome.
“Michael spoke with the boys during his test match debut.”
Gail said North Bundaberg Cricket Club was now the biggest junior club in Bundaberg and included 10 junior female players.
She said about eight seasons ago there were only six junior players, which included both Ned and Matthew, but over the year the club had grown significantly to include 80 sporting enthusiast.
“The Grassroot Cricket funding will allow us to buy new gear and give us money for a female change facility,” Gail said.
“We really appreciate this as it will help support the growth of cricket into the future.”
To watch the call between Michael Heser and North Bundaberg Cricket Club click here.
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