Cricket: Youngsters set for trip of lifetime

Sri Lankan tour members, Matthew Lobb (left) and Chamodh Peiris (right), pictured with City Cricket Club life member Norman Wilson.

The dream of a Cricket World Cup victory for New Zealand may be over but for 14 Northland Secondary School development cricket players, their cricketing dreams are just beginning.

The boys' squad embarks on a 17-day cricket tour to the Indian Ocean jewel that is Sri Lanka tomorrow.

However, Northland Cricket Association chief executive Warren Marr says "it's more than just a cricket trip".

"It's my initiative to give the guys credit for staying in the game and reward them and their parents.

"We wanted to go because of the experience the boys will get out of it, as well as the tough cricketing conditions over there."

This representative side will be the first to go on tour from Whangarei.

And, if all goes well, Marr says there is scope for the trip to happen every two years.

The emphasis of the sojourn will centre around cricket, with the team travelling to Kandy, Hikkaduwa, Hambantota and Colombo.

They will play local club and school teams at various venues, including Galle International Stadium, where the Sri Lankan side played Pakistan in August last year.

Marr sought inspiration for the Whangarei side's Sri Lanka trip after touring the country with a school from the United Kingdom.

In addition to cricket and recreational activities, such as white water rafting and visiting the famous Tooth of the Buddha holy site, Marr says the boys will give back to the communities they encounter.

"We'll take them to see some poor kids, spend some time with them and give them some cricket gear.

"It will make them realise how lucky they are to come from New Zealand and experience the beautiful people and culture."

Former New Zealand cricketer and City Cricket stalwart Robert Anderson says the trip will be beneficial for the players involved.

"It's wonderful, (but) it's certainly different," he says.

"I went on a tour to Australia when I was at school."

City Cricket Club's Frank Yovich Memorial youth trust has helped Matthew Lobb and Chamodh Peiris financially to be apart of the tour.

The squad will comprise players from as far north as Kerikeri and as far south as Wellsford.

Squad to tour Sri Lanka:

Matthew Lobb, Chamodh Peiris, Lewis Miller, Owen Arthur, Jarod Ross, Sean West, Hamish Kidd, Connor Wilson, Dante Mitchell, Matthew Kingi, Shane Burton, Liam Jones, Shaun Beamish, Shannon Kloppers.