The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Teenagers hope to hit sixes with Australian trek
Promising pair aim to pick up new skills with training stint Down Under
A pair of up and coming Courier Country cricketers have headed Down Under to achieve their dreams of being professionals.
Callum Garden, 17 and Rory Johnston, 18, have flown to Brisbane in Australia to train with the Valley District club.
Both play for Forfarshire Cricket Club in Broughty Ferry and eventually hope to become full-timers.
Callum and Rory have risen through the national youth system and played at international level for Scotland under-15 and under-17 sides.
Rory also recently represented Scotland in the under-19 team during the World Cup in Bangladesh.
Playing in Australia will give them the ability to play more cricket in different environments, with challenges to extend their experience.
Callum’s dad Lindsay said: “Callum has been playing cricket since he was about five years old and both he and Rory have set themselves the goal to become a professional.
“Both have put a lot of work into their cricket so far and going to Australia will, I’m sure, help them reach the next step.
“Forfarshire Cricket Club has been very good in developing its junior players and has invested in coaching across all age levels.”
Their trip has been organised by former Forfarshire professional and Scotland coach Peter Drinnan.
“Hopefully, when they return they will attend trials for English county teams,” Lindsay added.
“Several of their Scotland team-mates who are slightly older are involved with the professional English teams, so it would appear to be the direction to go in.”
Callum is a former Grove Academy pupil and is Forfarshire’s opening batsman and wicket keeper.
Former Dundee High School pupil Rory is also a top-order batsman and also plays as a off-spin bowler.
Both players will spend eight months Down Under, returning to Scotland in time for the start of the new cricket season in 2018.