Inverell tyro to play for Australia in Africa

INVERELL’S Jaidon Tasker has only been playing indoor cricket for a little more than a year but he is already playing for Australia.

The Holy Trinity student flies to South Africa today with the Australian U12s team to compete in the Junior World Series.

It’s the first time the 12-year-old has been overseas and admits to being “a bit” excited.

He made the Aussie team after playing for the NSW Country Cyclones.

“They had the trials in Inverell back in March for the Cyclones,” he said.

“Then we went up to Brisbane for nationals.

“You had to agree to making the Australian team and they announced the team at the end of the nationals.” 

Four Australian junior teams will play in South Africa in under 12s, 14s and 16s boys and under 16s girls’ divisions.

Jaidon reckons he is just as good with the bat as with the ball, which is handy in indoor because he will have to do both.

“I’m left hand bat, left-arm bowler,” he said.

“I try to bowl fast.”

He has picked up his skills in a relatively short period of time.

Even before he tried indoor, Jaidon wasn’t a regular outdoor cricketer either so his rise to national selection has been quite remarkable.

“I’ve been playing for a year and a bit,” he said.

“I’ve played outdoor for about a year too.

“Before I really started playing cricket and wasn’t really involved, my friend said ‘why don’t you come on Tuesday and we’ll sign you up for a team’.

“So I did and I’ve been playing ever since.” 

He plays in the Tuesday night competition in Inverell and has also been training hard ahead of his international debut.

His Australian side will take on teams from South Africa and New Zealand at the tournament, which runs for two weeks.

Also heading over to South Africa today is Tamworth umpire Steve Young, who will officiate at the tournament.

He has adjudicated at national championships before but this is also his first trip overseas and his first international tournament as an umpire.