Warrnambool College students vying to impress sub-districts cricket clubs in talent pathway shift

Six students - who play under 15s in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association - are vying to impress Melbourne-based sub-districts clubs through a series of training sessions.

The program is now a replacement for Cricket Victoria's usual pathway programs - including the Youth Premier League - after the top body made sweeping changes due to the financial impacts of COVID-19.

Warrnambool College teacher Jake Bloom said his students had performed well at the initial trial.

He said the six - Brierly-Christ Church pair Matthew Gome and Will Colla, West Warrnambool duo Joe Douglas and Hayden McGovern and Nestles' Ryan Bellman and Aidan Forsyth - would return to Melbourne on Sunday for the second of four sessions.

"The trials are basically the best of under 15 cricketers from across the state," Bloom, who also coaches Allansford-Panmure, said.

"They've done that in the past but now it's much more meaningful with Cricket Victoria withdrawing a lot of its pathway options.

"(Without the Youth Premier League) we've got to try to create other opportunities and get connections with Melbourne clubs again.

"In the past 20 years that's something a lot of associations haven't done because we've been relying on the Cricket Victoria-driven pathways."

Bloom said the six students impressed selectors in the first session.

"It's an opportunity for these guys to get down to Melbourne and to get noticed," he said.

"They all went down and performed really well. I was really encouraged with the coaches saying our guys were really up to the standard. It says a lot about our junior stuff here (at Warrnambool College) and in the Warrnambool region.

"I personally think it's the role of schools in the area to provide those pathway opportunities.

"It's not just about education. It's also helping to create those connections and pathways and parents.

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"You're hopeful you can open a few opportunities for these guys over the next few years."

McGovern said he had hopes of playing cricket at the highest possible level.

He said the most challenging aspect of the sessions was facing unfamiliar bowlers.

"It's just about getting your name out there and it's just a good experience," McGovern said. "Down here you're just facing the same people so it's good to face different people."

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