Adam Gilchrist Cricket Development Scholars
2007
Leonard Watt
Leonard plays for Cundletown in the Manning River District Cricket competition, and has had quite a lot of experience as a coach, mainly at the Australian Sports Camps in Sydney. He holds a Level 1 cricket coaching accreditation through the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme.He is also a qualified Hockey coach, and is involved in the administration of cricket in the Forster area. Leonard has just turned 19 years of age, and has not played in any Metropolitan-based competition.
Testimonials from Past Scholarship Winners
2006
Mitchell Power
Just after arriving: I am just getting settled in at the Leigh's place. They are very nice people. The town is great, and I have taken the opportunity to spend the day walking around town. The weather has been good so far but it sounds like there is a lot of rain coming. I'm very excited about what’s to come and must thank you both again for this. Already I have met a lot of experienced people and there will be many more to come.
Two months later: I am still enjoying things over here all is going great. I am training most afternoons and played 3 games this week. I am a bit sore now though.
3 Months into the scholarship: This scholarship has been a great opportunity for me in so many ways. I am meeting new people every week each with their own cricketing story to tell.
The scholarship has provided me with the chance to grow up, live away from home and most importantly improve my cricket. I have played some very strong cricket and play at least three times a week. It also gives you the chance to improve your cricketing abilities, make friends for life and enjoy the experience of another country and way of living.
I recommend the scholarship to anyone wishing to improve as a player and test to see how good they can become. They will become a better person for it and have a lot of fun along the way.
Chris Power (Mitch's Father)
The application process was simple and easy to follow and when Mitchell was awarded the scholarship the assistance given for travel arrangements through Kelly Travel was excellent.
Everybody at Richmond cricket club made sure Mitchell was well looked after and his first view of English cricket was from the members' pavilion at Lords.
Cricket development has been a priority with many opportunities to play in a strong competition and in other games at different grounds including Oxford and Cambridge. The program has given Mitch cricket and life experiences that he could not get in Australia.
Our initial concerns about how Mitchell would cope with life in England were quickly put to rest as his Richmond team mates and host family were there to assist at any time. Mitchell was hosted by a lovely Richmond cricket club family throughout the scholarship and knowing that he was well looked after made it easier for Di and myself while he was away.
We would recommend the program to all young country cricketers who have an ambition to see how far they can go in the game. If any parent or player considering the 2007 scholarship would like to contact Di or myself and find out a bit more we can be reached through Stan Gilchrist.
Extract from a note from Chris Goldie (Richmond Cricket Club) to Mitch Power prior to Mitch's arrival in England.
You would have received an email from Peter Ray about slow bowling. By way of background, Peter (or the Penguin as we know him) was possibly the finest slow left-arm spinner that London club cricket has ever seen. He played 1st XI cricket into his 60s and I know was a huge influence on Adam's time with us. I hope that you will find him an interesting character to meet and, I hope, learn from.
I had the pleasure of keeping wicket to Penguin for the best part of 20 years and can honestly say that he was good as any of the professional spinners that I have also had the opportunity to play with against during my career. Much of his strength, particularly as he got older, was his understanding of flight and his ability to keep his nerve (and thus resist the attractions of bowling negatively to save runs at the expense of taking wickets).
Chris Goldie is President of the Richmond Cricket Club and Co-ordinator of the Scholarship program in England.
2005
Ben Way
As a previous winner of the scholarship I believe that this is a great opportunity for any young country-born cricketer. It gave me the opportunity to grow as a player and a person as you are in a different environment from which you have grown up in. Its a massive opportunity for you to play in different conditions. As a batsman, the continuous hits you get help to keep your form coming back for the Australian summer. Also I found it was a great club to visit as there are many characters and the environment you play in will be a lot of fun.
2004
Reece O'Connel
Reece was the first scholar to win this exciting opportunity in 2004. Reece says:
For me winning the scholarship was exciting. I was nervous about leaving home, however excited about the prospect of playing cricket overseas. I had no idea what England was going to be like. The first few days were bizarre. I found shorts and a t-shirt wouldn't keep me warm for very long. But once I got down to training and met the guys I felt a lot more comfortable. And everything went well from there.
We won the comp which made the experience a little more special, but I think the most special times were spent meeting new people and making great friends. Every person at the club welcomed me. For a lad who loves his cricket, there is no better opportunity than this.
It was a great time and I’m hoping there are a few more experiences like that ahead.
Kevin O’Connell (Reece's Father)
Cricket was always a big part of Reece's young days, so at 16 when he told Deb and I that he wanted to play cricket in Perth we were not that surprised. We live in Bunbury which is 170 km south of Perth and because Reece had to finish his schooling it meant that for 2 years twice a week for 8 months each year we drove Reece to Perth for training and to play on the weekends.
When we heard he had been nominated by his club (Perth Cricket Club) for the inaugural Adam Gilchrist Scholarship for country cricketers we were pleasantly surprised. When Stan (Gilchrist) called and told Reece he had been selected as the winner the whole family was ecstatic, but then started the questions!!
- Where would he stay?
- How will a "country boy" going to a city with over 12 million people survive?
- How will he be accepted in a club that has no knowledge of his background or ability as a cricketer?
- How will he get to training and the games?
- What is the Richmond Cricket Club like and will he get coaching to develop his game?
- How will he go this being his first trip away?
- Plus many more reservations we had.
Well, we need not have worried because the trip was organised by Stan Gilchrist with sponsorship from Kelly Travel, Puma Australia and Albion Sports so that there were no loose ends and plenty of advice and support for Reece before and during the trip.
When Reece arrived in London he was met at the airport by a wonderful "foster" couple and their father who are now part of our own extended family. They have visited us in Australia over the last 12 months and allowed us to return some of their magnificent hospitality.
The Richmond Cricket Club were so inclusive that Reece felt at home from day one. He has made many, many life long friends, all of whom he still in contact with. One of the young lads he formed a special mateship with is now playing for Middlesex.
The competition and the coaching ensured that the time spent there helped develop his game and he came home with many improvements and ideas.
We did not expect it but despite his hectic schedule Adam Gilchrist made himself available to Reece for any advice or support required. It was a great surprise when Adam arrived at the club for a social function whilst Reece was there.
When Reece returned we got all the stories over the ensuing 6 months about the different experiences he had including Richmond winning the championship, the end of season trip, the many friends he made and the social outings with them, how his "new family" of Greg, Denyse and Barry had become part of his life, Adam taking him as a guest to a cricket match in which Australia was involved, being a net bowler to some international teams, playing cricket till 10 o clock at night during the week, the sight seeing tours around London, England and a quick trip to France and the different culture of such a big city.
The trip has added many dimensions to Reece's outlook on life, his confidence, self esteem, cricket ability and communication skills. We strongly reccommend that any young person apply to take advantage of such a huge opportunity.
