Mayor into bat

By Melissa Grant
NEWLY elected mayor Bill Ronald is bringing grassroots cricket back to Cardinia.
Cr Ronald recently unveiled plans to construct several cricket nets around the shire in a bid to spark youngsters’ interest in the sport.
PB Ronald Reserve has already been earmarked as the site for the first of the nets which would allow children to have a bat and a bowl in a safe environment.
Cr Ronald said the John Street Reserve could become a sporting Mecca within the next couple of years with a bit of imagination.
“We’re trying to elevate interest in grass roots cricket and promote better usage of PB Ronald Reserve,” he said.
“There’s also room for a soccer field and AFL goal posts at the reserve.
“It (PB Ronald Reserve) is just sitting there waiting for these activities to happen.”
Cr Ronald said although there were several cricket ovals within the shire, they were rarely suitable for those wanting to play an informal game.
“It (nets) allows grass roots children to access a facility without imposing on the formal cricket team’s facilities,” he said.
“It only takes two people and you can swap around and have a good game.”
Cr Ronald was also keen to make the pitches as user-friendly as possible.
“Once we have two to three of these around town and they become successful, we want to then escalate it to a higher level,” he said.
“Sponsors could provide funds for council to buy a bowling machine.
“A coach would be able to bring it on designated times and days.
“In any one day the machine could bowl 300 deliveries and 30, 40 or 50 children could get the opportunity to bat against it.”
The cricket practice wickets would almost certainly receive backing from Cricket Australia which has expressed interest in the project.
Cricket Australia community cricket manager Neale Price said Cr Ronald’s concept had a lot of merit.
“It is very much grass roots,” he said.
“It’s a bit like going to the beach or a backyard game of cricket.”
Mr Price said Cricket Australia would be keen to support the project as soon as it got the nod from the council.
“We’re happy to see people play the game in any shape or form,” he said.
Cr Ronald predicted the practice wickets would see an influx of aspiring Brett Lees and Ricky Pontings at local clubs.
“If we can get children to have a bit of a hit then they will eventually drift towards the cricket clubs,” he said.