Three young stars from the Mount Gambier and Districts Cricket Association have recently participated in SACA under 15 pathway trials in Adelaide.


Mil Lel’s Harry Hicks was one of the three from the South East completing a trial for the state squad.


Hicks has had an incredible season so far for Mil Lel and Mount Gambier. Hicks played at the Horsham Cup and was named the player of the tournament after a dominant performance with the bat over the week.


Hicks scored back to back centuries and a half century along the way to taking home the championship for Mount Gambier.


Also vying for selection in the squad was Ryder Lindner, who plays for Millicent in the Hall Trophy and has the fifth most runs in the competition averaging 23. Linder played well in the Barossa Valley representing the South East.


He scored a 79 not out against the Yorke Peninsula scoring at an incredible strike rate of 119.


The third local player to compete was Ryan Lucas from Mil Lel. Lucas has played in the Under 17s this season averaging nearly 30 with the bat.


Lucas also scored a 68 against Hamilton at the Horsham Cup alongside Hicks taking home the cup.


The trials consisted of six teams playing each other over four consecutive days but it was tough conditions for the local kids with the trials being held just a week after the three competed at Horsham and the Barossa Valley for Mount Gambier.


Craig Hicks, coach of the Under 15 Mount Gambier team at the Horsham Cup, believes the fixture of the event so soon after the two tournaments had played a role in the players struggling against good quality opponents.


“It’s unfortunately weighted heavily toward city kids,” Hicks said.


“They all struggled a little due to it being the week after Horsham and Barossa country weeks which totally flattened the kids.”


Despite having to back up from a big week it was a great learning experience for the three locals who were tested against some quality players from their age group and all three will be better players for it.