Australian spinner and NSW Blues skipper Steven O’Keefe is spinning around the region this week to promote the game he loves, and that is the message he wanted to pass on to the next generation of Australian kids.
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O’Keefe was recently enjoying a return to the Australian Test team in Sri Lanka before injury ended his tour, but now the left arm orthodox spinner is focussed on the upcoming Matadore Cup season, after his Country Blitz tour ends on Friday.
O’Keefe’s first stop was in Nundle, where four of the local small schools combined to produce 13 sides for a T20 Blitz session that had the state skipper impressed foer more than one reason.
Woolimin, Tintinhull, Nundle and Dungowan schools came together for the day, and even more impressive was the amount of female participation from the primary students through to the teaching staff.
“The level of engagement from all the kids was great to see,” O’Keefe said.
“The guys were good but the girls were super impressive.”
“Girls are becoming a big part of the game and it is great to expose them to opportunities like this and keep expanding the game.”
Talented young locals Joey Mead and Lara Graham were selected to help out with the coaching and clinics on the tour, and also get their chance to bowl at and face the Test star.
Following a lunch time master class at Nundle the team packed up and spun down the road to Farrer, where some students and the U15 Tamworth rep side had a nets session with O’Keefe, before the rain forced them to finish with some theory.
“It is really encouraging to come to the country and see so many kids interested in the game,” O’Keefe said.
“Hopefully it will keep growing and we will see even more cricket players come out of the country.”
The spinners most important lesson however is not just about cricket.
“I tell the kids to find what they love and pursuit it.”
“For me that was cricket but that could be another sport or school work, or music or whatever it is.”
“If you love what you are doing you are going to work harder and be better.”
The Country Blitz hits Narrabri and Gunnedah on Thursday and Friday.