As a proactive and progressive club, St Michael’s Cricket Club is renowned for promoting youth cricket in Dumfries and Galloway as can be seen by two thirds of the players representing both senior sides last weekend, having come through the clubs own junior programme.
As such, following the success of RWS Forestry Xl junior side in the 2016 campaign, the club were delighted to introduce a second junior team into the local T20 league for the 2017 season, playing under the name St. Michael’s Junior Academy.
Captained by another player to come through the ranks; Kieran Moore, it is the ambition of the club to play a minimum of six Under 13 aged youngsters in the Junior Academy side every week in this hard ball T20 format.
Unsure of how results would go for this very young side against predominantly adult sides, everyone connected with Saints was over the moon when the side won their first ever game, beating Shipwrecks by three wickets last Thursday in week 2 of the season.
Notable performances so far have been the batting of Fergus Bainbridge, Callum Begg and Ronan Wilson; the bowling of Rory McLeod, Joel Hall and Mikey Turner, and for sheer enthusiasm of the game Keyran McNinch has excelled.
St. Michael’s Cricket Club would also like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the Postcode Community Trust and their Community Sports Programme for supporting this new side. The Postcode Community Trust awarded our St Michael’s Junior Academy side a vast array of equipment and clothing to support them during their fledgling season. Everyone at the club; and especially these youngsters are extremely grateful.
To further support the development of the youngsters at the club, Saints are delighted to announce the recent arrival of Juan Henri from Durban South Africa who will be our overseas amateur for the 2017 season.
Juan will not only play for the club during the season, but will also fulfil a proactive coaching role in several local schools and at weekly club sessions utilising both his experience and credentials (CSA Level 1 coaching certificate) to give the youngsters this year, the best guidance and enjoyment possible.
A right handed opening seam bowler and middle order bat, Juan has played club cricket in Durban since the age of seven.
Juan represented Durban High School 1st XI since Grade 11, amassing 45 Caps. DHS hold the record for the most number of South African international players coming through the ranks of the school by any high school in South Africa, such as current ICC number 8 ranked batsman Hashim Amla and former luminaries Barry Richards and Lance Klusenar.
Juan made his mark when breaking into the DHS first XI with back to back fifties in his first 2 games against Maritzburg College and St David’s making 52 and 67 respectively. He was the second leading run scorer with 368 runs behind current provincial and ex-South African U19 captain Sibonelo Makhanya.
Just before arriving in Scotland, Juan helped his winter league Scorchers side to a Semi Final with valuable contributions with both with bat and ball. He scored 55 not out and took 3-21 against Capital Air Warriors as well as scoring 42 off 21 against Haspak Bandits. Juan also took his first ever hat trick against Malls Tiles where he bowled his side to victory with figures of 3-12.
Everyone at Saints is delighted to welcome Juan to the club, and is sure that he will have a positive impact both on and off the park, and hope that he enjoys his time in Dumfries.
Any prospective cricket players – young or old! – should contact Chairman Sandy McNay on 01387 710713 / 07842 013884 for more information on Saints.
