CRICKET in the Upper Hunter is set to undergo some exciting new changes in the near future, including the formation of a girls' league in Scone.
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Following the recent visit to the area by NSW players Harry Conway and Jack Edwards, interest in the sport appears to be at an all-time high.
And, that's put a big smile on the face of Cricket NSW manager - Hunter Gary Fisher.
Junior and senior registrations are currently open, with the parents of the youngsters being able to enrol online this year to make it easier and more convenient.
For the first time, a Sixers Girls' Cricket League will take place in Scone on Friday evenings.
"All junior clubs have been encouraged to enter a team into this competition," Fisher said.
"These matches are played on a modified format over a shorter period, with rules to ensure maximum engagement and participation by every player.
"Clubs are being urged to form a women's social league team, too.
"This format will also be trialled this year.
"We are currently asking clubs to engage mothers, wives, girlfriends and sisters of players, for example, to participate in this fun-filled format of the game."
Fisher admitted with the recent uplift in staff, Cricket NSW had never been in a better position to assist organisations and associations with their enquiries and workload.
"Cricket now - across the Greater Hunter region - has a dedicated clubs officer to directly assist and support them with their administration tasks and champion the growth of female cricket through the Sixers Girls' Leagues and Women's Social Leagues," he said.
"The Upper Hunter Junior Cricket Association has adopted the conference administration model, which in essence entails this dedicated resource taking care of the administration functions of the association - for example, competition draws, ground allocations, communication and processes.
"That will therefore free up hard-working volunteers from these time consuming tasks to promote cricket across the region.
"Cricket NSW also boasts a schools officer who works closely with schools in establishing sustainable relationships and delivering cricket programs in the schoolyard."