Autism in Cricket Program

Tim and Kai, two of our Autism in Cricket Blasters children, were provided with a fantastic opportunity to attend the Scorchers v Melbourne stars game at Optus stadium this week. 

Tim and Kai got to meet a player, get a hat signed by a scorcher player and have a little chat to them while standing out in the middle of the ground in front of 26,000 people. Our Autism in Cricket team were also invited up in to the black swan room to watch the game.

Christina Mathews, CEO of the WACA, addressed the crowd and mentioned the Autism in Cricket program which was a wonderful recognition of the work our tea has been doing.

Everyone who attending had a great evening….even though the cricket game was a bit of a one sided show! 

Sanjay Agath, attended the Autism in Cricket launch before the season started, signing up to the Wembley Districts Junior cricket club that evening. Sanjay was going to play Youth ICL with Wembley but decided to play main stream under 17’s cricket.

Sanjay and his team have been having a successful season thus far; and over the Christmas break Sanjay was chosen to represent the Western Australia ID team in Victoria this week .

This is a truly remarkable achievement – in 4 short months Sanjay has gone from not playing cricket to representing Western Australia on the National Stage.  And to make this story evening better – Sanjay got a wicket in his first game for WA! 

Congratulations to Sanjay , his family and the Wembley Districts Cricket club.

Wembley District Cricket club recently hosted the youth and seniors Integrated cricket leagues; and a successful day was had by all! Four junior teams and six senior teams competed in the event. 

An invitation went out to the general public and a free sausage sizzle, zooper doopers , drinks and fruit were provided by the club  – a big hit will all players, supporters and families.

Our Autism in Cricket team attended the event; answering a number of questions and handing out Autism in Cricket merchandise. 

We were very happy to award Joondalup Kinross Cricket Club a Adam Gilchrist signed Cricket bat. The bat was awarded to Joondalup Kinross Cricket Club in recognition of their efforts to improve inclusion for children with Autism in their local cricket club and actively including everyone at their club in their sensory friendly family day.

When setting up their sensory family day, the club approached the Autism in Cricket team requesting sensory equipment and toys to make the day a huge success!

Brianna has decided to play indoor cricket for the next season in April! The heat and length of the outdoor game seems too much for her to commit to, but she has found an alternative! Thank you so much to the volunteers who have been telling her she should be a cricket player! She problem solved and made a decision to participate! I can’t thank you enough!

* Full disclosure, we are a cricket family, I met my husband playing indoor cricket and he plays masters for Australia. But up until now, she hasn’t been able to overcome the sensory. Yay!

Adam is an shining inspirational light for all he is doing for kids like Tim and families like ours, Tim went to book week last week as Adam and tracked down his test number of 381 and his photo. Since meeting Gilly he has been touched by him reaching out and being kind and positive to kids like him. As a parent of a child with autism when you see, hear and sense how a person like Gilly is a champion for a cause like this it makes all our hearts smile and appreciate how blessed we all are that he is who he is…..truly amazing.

Tim chats to Courtney about his experience at the WACA Come and Try day and why he loves Cricket!

Thank you so much for an amazing day. My little man absolutely enjoyed himself. He has always wanted to do the things that his older brothers do but is always too nervous to give it a try.
The have a go day was incredible. My son’s confidence really blossomed after the first hit of the ball where he realised he actually could do it. Half way through the first session he turned to me and said ‘sign me up I’m playing cricket’
Again from the bottom of my heart Thank you

Marty coaches the Integrated teams Joondalup-Kinross Cricket Club. In this video he discusses the importance of inclusive cricket clubs and Come and Try Days – check out  the video below: 

Courtney chats to Suzy, mum of Abby and James about the challenges they’ve faced when trying to access sports.

Cricket came into Boyd’s life when he was a bit older, but it’s been the best thing to happen to him, I honestly don’t know what we’d do without it. What cricket has done is give him a community and something he can be really good at. It has given him so much and were incredibly proud of how hard he has worked to get to this point.

For me Junior Cricket’s not just about sport it’s about lifelong friendships, it’s a place for everybody. I really believe Junior cricket should reflect the community, it’s our responsibility to make everyone feel welcome.