The junior program will focus on skill development through one on one coaching and 20/20 big bash games.

Glen Innes Junior cricket coordinator Shad Bailey said there will be an annual general meeting on Wednesday September 7 to form a committee for this summer.

“We want to get more kids and parent involved this season so we are looking to have the AGM at the New England club and Cath Barber from Cricket NSW will be there to outline how the program should work,” he said.

“Last year we got local kids involved with the Milo in2CRICKET program and the T20 blast for slightly older kids and we’d like to expand our numbers this summer.

“We would like to form a committee and we will then look at the best way to formulate the summer’s junior cricket program.”

Mr Bailey said the players benefited from regular games throughout last season.

“The in2CRICKET program grew significantly last season and there are plenty of opportunities for local kids to get involved again this year in Glen Innes,” he said.

“The program is available for both girls and boys of all skill levels and we split the program for the five to eight year olds, they’ll participate in the in2CRICKET  program whilst the older kids from eight to 12 will play the T20 games.”

Mr Bailey said depending on the skill of the players there may be some overlap with the programs.

“Depending on the talent of the child we may find some of the younger kids getting a go with the older kids,” he said.

“The whole program is about participating and enjoyment and we hope to get plenty of juniors joining in this summer, when I was a kid I got plenty of opportunities to play cricket, then I went on to play state cricket, so I’d like to give Glen Innes kids the same chance that I had to play the game at a top level.

“So we hope to continue to build on the numbers and get junior cricket back to the levels it has been in previous years, seeing our ovals full of kids playing cricket is our aim for this summer.”