The 31st annual Ballina Under 13 LJ Hooker Cricket Carnival from January 4th to January 8th has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 cases in Sydney.

"We were looking forward to hosting this event however, the recent COVID situation presented challenges for teams in hotspot areas who were not able to attend," said the Ballina Under 13 Cricket Carnival Facebook page.

"We decided to delay our decision as we looked towards holding a revised draw with 8-10 teams however, with daily uncertainty and the threat of constant changes, we were left with no other choice.

"The safety of all players, coaches and supporters is our priority. While play may have been suspended in Ballina in January, there’s still plenty of local cricket left in the season in the new year."

Manly Warringah Under 13s won the Ballina Carnival in January and the Northern Beaches is a NSW Health declared "hot spot". Manly Warringah and North Shore had entered to take in the 2021 Carnival.

Far North Coast Cricket Academy's Under 13 representative side has just returned from an outstanding showing at the NSW Under 13s Youth Championships played in Scone in NSW's Upper Hunter.

Far North Coast Under 13s coach Phil Dalli talks to his players before a match at Scone. Photo: Facebook / Far North Coast Cricket Academy

The Far North Coast Under 13s, which featured Eden Geyer from Lismore Workers Cricket Club, defeated Mid North Coast in a 40 over match by 185 runs with Kai Dalli scoring 62, Lachie Barnes 56 not out and Riley Weir 36. Barnes followed up with 4 for three runs and fellow opening bowler Harry Bull 2/7. In Round 2 Far North Coast defeated Northern Inland by eight wickets with Kai Dalli 31 not out in a 40 over match. In Round 3, Far North Coast suffered a nine-wicket defeat to North Coast. Weir top scored with 22 in another 40 over match.

Far North Coast then defeated North Coast in a 20/20 match with Weir top scoring with 40 off 43 and Harry Kershler (25 off 20 balls) hitting a six off the second last ball of the match for the win. FNC then beat Mid North Coast in the afternoon 20/20 match

with Dalli cracking 88 runs off 41 balls and Lachie Barnes 26 runs off 23 balls.

Lismore's famous Under 12s Cricket Carnival off

The decision to cancel the event, which featured a maximum 16 teams including Far North Coast Sixers and Far North Coast Thunder, follows the cancellation of the Lismore Under 12 Cricket Carnival last week and the Stan Austin Taree Under 16 Carnival on Tuesday.

Manning Junior Cricket Association secretary Yvonne Nash said the decision was not taken lightly but with teams from NSW and Queensland it was decided to cancel the carnival.

"Player safety is paramount to us, as I am sure it is to everyone that participates, and we do not want to place anyone into a harmful situation," she wrote.

Far North Coast Cricket Academy's squad for the Taree Under 16s Carnival included Goonellabah Workers Sports' Charlie Alexander, Kaleb Armstrong, Will Barnes and Tom Chatterton; and Marist Brothers' Jack Taylor.