FIVE young cricketers have been rewarded for their individual performances at the recent Junior Country Week carnivals during January within the Western Waves Region, selected to play in the Western Waves All Star teams.

Each player from all teams that participate in all the various carnivals is assessed across the length of the competition and from there the Region selectors invite 12 boys and 12 girls to play matches against the Sunraysia Suns in the coming weeks in Horsham.

The matches form part of the selection process for next season’s Youth Premier League teams in Under-16 Boys and Under-15 Girls carnivals, with the boys carnival held here in Hamilton each December.

Two boys and three girls have been invited to play from the Hamilton and District Cricket Association, with Harry Austin and Brodie Phillips selected in the boys All Stars, while Grace Potter, Eloise Millard and Kelsie Hunt are the girls selected to play in Horsham.

Having progressed through the Hamilton and District Cricket Association junior system with selection in representative teams for the past few summers, the players now start to climb the ladder to participate in higher standard cricket with selection in these teams.

As expected, the players head into the games with excitement while also wanting to showcase their talents at a higher level.

“It was great to receive the email to say I had been selected to play in the All-Stars game in Horsham,” Eloise Millard said.

“I got to play in this last year too and really enjoyed it.

“It is also great to catch up with cricket friends I have made in the past few years, but any chance to play cricket is awesome.”

Hunt didn’t expect to gain selection, as she believed there were plenty of players as good as her.

“I was surprised to be honest because there are lots of good players around,” Hunt said.

“To me it obviously means I have improved a lot to be noticed, but I'm just happy to get out there and play cricket.”

The games will be longer format matches than the players are used to here in their home competitions, which allows the players to bat and bowl longer and teaches them new skills to take back to their home teams.

“(By) playing extra overs and with great coaches, my cricket can (only) improve,” Millard said.

“I enjoy learning new cricket knowledge that I can take back to my club and my own game.”

Hunt was also looking forward to developing her skills in a new environment.

“To take away new advice and skills that will be given to me during the experience and put them into practice,” she said.

“Also expecting just to gain a new experience at a higher level.”