New team to join Port Hedland cricket clubs in the start of this year’s local cricket season

The Port Hedland cricket season will begin on Friday night, October 15, with six teams battling it out in the 35-over competition before a season of twenty20 matches begin. A new cricket pitch was installed at Colin Matheson oval and players are excited with the summer of cricket only weeks away. Reigning premiership captain Jarrad O’Dea from the Port Hedland Cricket Club said there was a lot of buzz and excitement about the start of the season. “We’ve got a fair few numbers, new players and faces so it should be a pretty solid turn out,” he said. “We’re definitely hoping to grow the women’s game, there are a lot of good players around and I think the growth of women’s footy will encourage the other sports. “Our women’s team has grown a fair bit and the other clubs have got a fair few numbers as well.” O’Dea said he had been campaigning for a new cricket pitch for more than five years and he was itching to try out the new Colin Matheson Oval pitch. “We’re definitely excited about having the new pitch, we have been trying for the last five or six years to get it pushed through. It’s definitely an exciting time that is finally going in,” he said. O’Dea feels his side will put in a good showing in 2021 but acknowledges the strong competition across the board. “We’ve got another strong team this year but I’m hearing the other clubs have got pretty strong sides too,” he said. “There’s a bit of a buzz in town as the season approaches, the boys are getting down to training and are really excited.” O’Dea encouraged any interested cricketers to come down to training, message any of the other clubs online or sign up and play. “There is still plenty of time for people to sign up, it is open all season. There are a lot of shift workers in town, so the more players the better really.” “Each club has their own contacts online and there are teams in Port or South so there are plenty of options for players to avoid travelling across.”