Sport
26 September, 2023
Dubai beckons for indoor cricketer
MORAYFIELD State High School (MSHS) year 10 student Kaidan Jarrett will represent Australia for the first time as he competes in the indoor cricket Junior World Series in Dubai, from Saturday to the following Friday.
Kaidan will play in the 15 and Under boys division, with the Australian team scheduled to contest New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Sri Lanka and England.
Kaidan’s dad Darren said his son was “very proud to be selected for Australia and play for his country”.
“It has been a goal of his for several years,” Darren said.
“He is excited for the challenge of playing against the world’s best.”
Darren said Kaidan was also excited to go to Dubai as it was his first time overseas, while he was a little nervous about food as his usual preferences included chicken nuggets and chips!
Kaidan has played indoor cricket for the Caboolture Snakes since he was seven, and he made his A grade debut in the Men’s Major League competition when he was 14.
Kaidan was selected for Queensland in 2020 and 2021, but the national titles were cancelled in both years due to covid before he finally attended his first national titles last year.
For good measure the Queensland team featuring Kaidan completed last year’s championships undefeated, and the MSHS scholar was selected for the Australian All-Stars merit team.
Kaidan again represented Queensland in this year’s national championships – held in Ipswich during June – and he was subsequently selected for his country in the upcoming Junior World Series.
Four of Kaidan’s Queensland teammates were also selected in the Australian 15 and Under boys team, with Kaidan having played with and against them for a number of years.
An all-rounder, Kaidan has also played outdoor cricket since 2015. He started at the Burpengary Brumbies, and he currently plays for Glasshouse Districts Cricket Club in the U17 and men’s second grade teams.
Kaidan has been in the Sunshine Coast Queensland Junior Cricket (QJC) representative team since U13 level, and last year he won the Sunshine Coast Scorchers Junior Player of the Year award. He was also named in the QJC President’s XI for the past two years.
Last year, Kaidan played for the Scorchers as a 14-year-old in the new U16 competition, with the Scorchers winning the tournament after Kaidan scored a century in the final.
Also last year, Kaidan was selected to play in the U15 and U16 State Cup Challenge, and he was one of four 14-year-olds chosen for the latter Challenge.
Darren said indoor cricket was much faster paced than outdoor cricket, while indoor cricketers needed to be effective at batting, bowling and fielding as each player was required to bat for four overs and bowl two overs.
“Fielding needs to be sharp as catches can be taken from the net, and run-outs are a major factor in the game,” he said.
