Local hero and Sydney Thunder bowler Sammy-Jo Johnson will be joined by Thunder’s Tahlia Wilson and Sydney Sixers batter Kurtis Patterson, to travel to the state’s Far North and meet our state’s youngest cricketers and cricket lovers with one mission: to inspire everyone to play and love cricket.  

The Country Blitz, Cricket NSW’s amazing annual regional engagement tour, will see players from the two Sydney clubs and the state’s premier cricket teams travel to schools and cricket grounds in communities across the State.

This year, on 22 and 23 August, the 35 players are set to visit 12 Country NSW regions to meet children from over 40 schools in 37 towns, participate in 15 come-and-try days and cricket clinics across these regions and also attend 20 meet and greet events, which include media opportunities, and spending time with our wonderful volunteers.  

Johnson, Wilson and Patterson are set to attend the Cricket NSW Foundation Indigenous Youth Program being held in Coraki on August 22 and meet with keen cricketers and volunteers at a sponsor event. On August 23, the three players will visit the school that Sammy-Jo Johnson attended. 

The visit to Coraki will take place between 10am -12pm at Windsor Park.

The trio will visit Blue Hills College in Goonellabah at 9am on 23 August.

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The tour ties in with Play Cricket Week that is being celebrated across Australia during the week, to mark the launch of the 2024/25 cricket season encouraging Australians to play #cricketanywhere.

During the Country Blitz tour, there are Beach Blasts scheduled along our coastal towns, such as one on the Nobbys Beach in Newcastle and Terrigal on the Central Coast, while the state’s inland towns are organising Cricket Blast events and junior cricket matches where NSW’s youngest players will be able to play with their heroes and get an understanding of the game from the best in the sport.

This year, a few of the players are visiting their old primary schools to inspire the children of their alma mater to play and love cricket. Breakers star Ebony Hoskin is scheduled to go to her primary school in Howlong, while Thunder player Matt Gilkes will visit his high school, Ulladulla High, in Shoalhaven. Newcastle, meanwhile, is eagerly waiting for local girl Sienna Eve, who is a new member of the Breakers Squad.

Johnson, who is a local legend in Lismore, says that it’s a special feeling every year to go back to her childhood town for Country Blitz, and it’s even more special visiting her old school. She said:

“This is where it all started. When I was growing up, going to the school, I would idolize Brett Lee and work towards being a high-performance bowler one day. I hope to inspire the next generation of cricketers from my hometown to believe anything is possible. 

“The people of Lismore been through so much in the last few years, battling floods and working through rebuilding after the damage. I feel happy to go back every time to see life is getting back to normal, and I always catch up with my local friends even while passing through town.”   

Cricket NSW’s Chief Community Cricket Officer, Martin Gleeson, said Country Blitz is one of the most exciting times of the cricket pre-season each year. Gleeson said:

“Country areas of NSW represent the heart and soul of the sport. Many of our elite players began their cricket journey in Country NSW and the Country Blitz provides a great opportunity for our players to support Country communities as they gear up the season.

The Country Blitz activities put players in the community to inspire children to play the game, help clubs with their recruitment for the coming season and to meet and thank the many volunteers who are integral to the game’s success locally.

“Through the Country Blitz, we want to inspire children living in regional NSW to pick up a bat and ball. Cricket is the lifeblood of Australia’s great sporting tradition, and through our efforts, Cricket NSW aims to help our children enjoy, love and learn the game.”