The annual Walter Taylor Shield is just around the corner and a group of under 15 cricketers are set to take the field for Armidale, some for the first time in the competition.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Armidale will line up against teams from around the state and Queensland in the carnival which runs from January 2 to 5.
One person who has been in the shoes of the group of players representing the town for is Guyra teenager BJ Cameron.
The 17-year-old will co-coach the team alongside experience Guyra teammate Mitch Woods.
We caught up with BJ for his thoughts on the coming tournament.
How’s the team looking?
The team is looking really good, we have a good mix of batsmen and bowlers showing a lot of potential with a lot of these players hitting form late in this half of the season leading into the carnival. This is shown through a number of players earning their senior debuts in first and second grade this year which is great to see.
Why did you want to take on the co-coaching role?
I took on this role to further my coaching experience, alongside a very experienced player and knowledgeable coach Mitch Woods. I also enjoy working with the playing group and watching them develop as cricketers as they are all willing to have a good go.
How do you think they will go?
I am confident that the team can be really competitive in this years competition with plenty of talent across the board. The dedication shown even in training has been a standout to me.
What strengths are there?
We have a number of players including Sam Johnson, Ben Heagney, Ryan Simpson and Olly Schmude who have represented at a high level and myself and mitch will be looking to these players to lead by example. Another two that we will be expecting raw talent to shine from are Mitch Duddy with the bat and Tom Craig with the ball, both showing some serious potential. In saying this all other players selected are more than capable of stepping up to some quality performances.
How are they getting on?
All players are showing that they get along well which I see as a vital part of a successful team. They are showing great dedication towards their training leading up to the carnival.
What do you think you can pass onto them?
As I have been through these carnivals myself I hope to be able to pass on some knowledge of what is expected and required to be a competitive team against teams from around the state. Being around the same age as the playing group I feel as though I can relate to their situations as they are still fresh in my mind.
RELATED:
Squad: Tom Craig, Mitch Duddy, Ben Heagney, Sam Johnson, Mac Orr, Brock Parsons, James Phelps, Jonathan Phelps, Olly Schmude, Ryan Simpson, Hayden Schumacher, Henry Starr. Reserves-Margaret Conroy, Lachlan Hunt.
The Walter Taylor Shield is named after one of New England’s cricketing greats and is unique to Armidale. The 2019 competition will be its 27th year running.
