STARS of the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder BBL and WBBL teams will travel to all points of regional New South Wales, including the Shoalhaven, and the ACT, starting next week, for the annual Cricket NSW Country Blitz.
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Each Big Bash club will drive its own initiatives in different parts of the state with 36 players involved, including several NSW Blues and Breakers - with Blues rookie contract holder Matthew Gilkes (from Ulladulla) and Breakers' Naomi Stalenberg visiting the Shoalhaven.
The Blitz takes place over two weeks, from September 3-5 and 10-12, visiting 18 regions including local schools and junior clubs.
General manager community cricket Ivan Spyrdz said the Country Blitz is a fantastic opportunity for Sixers, Thunder, Blues and Breakers players to connect with the wonderful cricket communities throughout regional NSW.
"For many regions, this annual event signifies the cricket season is open and ready to go for the year ahead," Spyrdz said.
"Many of our regional cricket communities have been doing it tough over the last few years and we hope that having some of our players travelling to their regions provides them with a boost in spirits.
"The players enjoy it, our Cricket NSW staff enjoy it, and we do it because we value the work our cricket volunteers do.
"It's a small thank you to the volunteers who do a magnificent job in running cricket in regional NSW."
Gilkes and Stalenberg will visit six different locations in the Shoalhaven during their two-day visit on September 4 and 5.
First up on Tuesday will be a visit to Berry Public School between 11.30am and 12.30pm, for activities and question time, before stops at Bomaderry Public School between 2.30pm and 3pm (infant school mascot challenge) and Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Cricket Club between 4.30pm and 5pm (come and try night).
Then on Wednesday, the pair will first stop at Illaroo Road Public School from 10-11am (activities and question time), before calling into Nowra High School between 1.30-3.30pm (Thunder leadership program) and Bay and Basin Cricket Club from 4.30-5.30 (junior club session).
