LIAM SELECTED FOR NATIONAL TITLES
ONE of Geelong’s brightest young cricketers is set to shine on the big stage.
Liam Blackford, a prodigious batting talent at Premier Cricket club Geelong, will wear the green and gold at the Cricket Australia underage national championships.
Blackford will represent the CA XI under-17 squad in the titles, which showcase the best young cricketers in the Australian Cricket Pathways system.
The CA XI will compete at the titles from September 30 to October 10 in Mackay.
The championships provide players with the opportunity to represent their states and territories while testing their skills against fellow up-and-coming cricketers.
Cricket Australia Pathways manager Graham Manou said the underage national championships represented a crucial step for young players aiming for higher honours.
“The championships are an integral part of the Australian Cricket Pathway,” Manou said.
“These tournaments continue to provide important development opportunities for our next generation of state and Australian cricketers.”
Leah Poulton, the highperformance coach of Cricket Australia’s female program, said the tournament showcased talent on the fringes of elite level competition.
“The championships provide a platform for Australia’s most exciting young talent to showcase their skills and perform against their peers,” Poulton said.
“There has been a remarkable record of players transitioning from our underage championships into elite competitions.”