Cricket celebrates changing culture

C Grade, Division 2

GLEN Alvie enjoyed a great win over Inverloch in C2 on Saturday, but the real winner of the day was the continued evolution of cricket.

The diverse match featured families, women and juniors in a true demonstration of the changing attitudes across the sport.

Glen Alvie’s team selection included members of the Luff family – a father/mother/daughter combination.

“Once again, Grace Luff really stepped up in C Grade, bowling out Inverloch’s opening batsmen,” club president David Hynes said.

“Some batsmen get out there and just see a 13-year-old girl, only to discover a really talented cricketer.

“It’s great to see those family combinations getting out there together. For a while now, our focus as a club has been on providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for everyone, and it’s really satisfying to see when families get to play together. It’s special in itself, but it gives a lot of hope for the future of local cricket. It’s very reassuring.

“The only downside is the extra afternoon tea that has to be prepared in the Luff household. Hopefully we’ll be seeing all six of them playing together in the future.”

Inverloch also had good representation from the Stingettes playing in C Grade, as well as a couple of juniors.

“It was good to have the Stingettes and the juniors filling out the side. Amy (McRobert) got a wicket,” Inverloch senior coach Dylan Clark said.

“We pride ourselves on being a family club and there’s a good vibe out there. We have a few father/son and mother/son combinations. 

“The Stingettes have been one of our most successful teams in the last few years. They’ve been leading the charge at the club and it’s time for the guys to get on board.”

Hynes said cricket has come leaps and bounds in terms of inclusion, but there is still work to do.

“It’s good to see C Grade becoming a bit of a mixed competition. You still have your older guys out there who share their experience and help the younger players. C Grade is played in the really good spirits for the right reasons,” he said.

“However, there are still elements that need to be changed. Occasionally, you’ll hear things like ‘you got bowled out by a girl’. We have some work to do to change up that thinking and the use of that sort of language. We want to see everyone out there be treated the same, and it’s great to see more people are calling it out. When you know better, you do better, and we want to see language become more inclusive.”

The C2 game was played at Glen Alvie.

Inverloch won the toss and chose to bowl first.

The partnership of opening batsman Peter Roberts and fourth change batsman captain Ian Thorn delivered 39 and 47 runs respectively, which provided the runs Glen Alvie needed to stay ahead.

For Inverloch, Archie Terlich and Jarrod Drenen took two wickets each, with single wickets claimed by Dean Cashin, Jordon Foote, Mitchell Woods and McRobert.

Inverloch was chasing 8/142.

Although the opening partnership was dismissed early by Grace Luff, Cashin kept Inverloch in the game with 63 runs.

Jude McNally and vice-captain Charlie Andersen took three wickets each and ran through the rest of Inverloch’s batting order.

Inverloch conceded defeat with a score of 10/115. 

Glen Alvie had good scores across its two-day games.

In A2, Glen Alvie made 7/206 against MDU with Matthew Donohue making 97 not out.

Despite losing a wicket early, the Glen Alvie batsmen settled into a consistent game.

B2 also played MDU and made 5/262.

Steven Smith compiled 110 not out and young Lucas Ton made 51 not out, achieving his best innings this season.