John Forrest High School tour with a vision

John Forrest Senior High School cricket Academy from Western Australia is on a 2-week international tour in Sri Lanka. They arrived on July 4. This is the first time they have embarked on an overseas tour.

This was revealed by Sam Davies, the head coach of the team. He has played Grade two cricket in the WACA district for 15 years and is a level two coach with wide experience. He is being assisted by former Australian Women test opening batsman, Peta Verco. She has 13 test caps and played in two women’s world cups.

Davies was interviewed at St. Peter’s College grounds, whilst they were playing their first match against the Peterite junior team. She said “Your present coach Tom Moody is a fine product from WACA. “Leggie” test bowler Stuart McGill learnt the craft on WACA before he went to NSW. Sam has coached the JFHS schoolboys for the last 3 years. “John Forrest won the junior title in 2006. They have won the WA junior school championship from 2003-2006.

“Young hopefuls are not only taught the skills to adjust and play under varying conditions. They are taught other areas of the game including umpiring, administration, and scoring too.

“Cricket is a leveller and a way of life. One has to maintain the dignity and its true traditions. It has to be taught at grassroots level The students are here to learn and study the cultural and historic heritage of your little island in the sun. We will be visiting Kandy, on our way to the Pinnawela elephant orphanage.

“In Ruhuna we will visit the hamlets ravaged by the horrendous tsunami and help the poor kids who have become orphans overnight. The team, led by Paul Leaver who is just 12 is virtually an under 13 team though they play under 14, 17. Two of them just 9 years. Beau Anthony, grandson of Sri Lankan test Umpire Basil Anthony. Beau, is accompanied by his father Jayantha Anthony.

“Beau, a young fast bowler one day wants to play for Sri Lanka”, said his pa, Jayantha. The visitors will play two matches in Kandy against Kingswood and Trinity Combined Ananda/Nalanda on July 16 and sign off with S. Thomas’ Mt. Lavinia.

The tour party team (13) Name with the age Beau Anthony (9), Berensden (12), C. Chancellor (11), James Deering (10), Robert Elkins (12), Kyle Francis (12), Robert Guy (11), C. Houlbrook (11), Paul Leaver (capt. 12), C. Murray (10), Luke Shepherd (9), J. Sinclair (11), Teo Jorden (12)

Jayantha Anthony said there quite a number of Sri Lankans living and playing cricket in W.A., Perth. One of them is old Royalist Rohan Jurangpathy who has played first class cricket. They will be too happy to host a junior team from Sri Lanka in the future.
- BW