By RUSSELL BENNETT
KYAH Cronin-Little knows exactly what he wants out of his cricket, and what he needs to do to get there.
One of Pakenham Cricket Club’s rising stars, he was recently named in the final 13-man squad of the Under 14 South East Sharks representative side – which also features Mitch Cammarano from Kooweerup, and Clyde’s Josh King.
With a top score of 58 not out last year in the Under 14s, Kyah wants to translate that into a half-century at Sharks level.
The 13-year-old has a few handy types to learn from at Pakenham, too.
“Rob Elston and Dom Paynter have helped me so much with my batting and my set-up,” he said.
“I was using too much bottom hand so they’ve helped me get rid of that. They’ve opened my stance up a bit more as well.”
Jason Williams and Jack Anning have also guided Kyah along the way.
“On Saturday we’ve got a bye so they’re coming down to the nets with me and we’re getting the bowling machine out and working on the hook shot and cut shot.”
Kyah last year made the West Gippsland Under 14 side in the Russell Allen Shield at VMCU (Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union) level. He has also learned from a few gun WGCA juniors who’ve also gone on to make Sharks teams.
“They’ve been telling me how to get in, and they said it went by your averages,” Kyah said.
“So, I came back to the club (Pakenham) and worked on my batting – because that’s what I needed to work on – and I made a 50 after that and I’ve just been batting better since.”
Kyah received a huge boost when he got an email saying he’d made the Sharks squad, and he already knows the technical areas of his game he needs to improve on next.
“With my driving I lift my head sometimes and edge it; with the hook shot I don’t get my hands up fast enough sometimes; and with my bowling I sometimes bowl too short so I have to pitch it up a bit more,” he said.
Asked about his favourite part of playing cricket, Kyah was quick to respond.
“Probably just playing with my mates … and facing fast bowlers. I like that too.”
Players named in WGCA teams for the Vic Metro Carnival, beginning 4 January, include:
Under 12.1
Luke Ryan
Brodie Matthews
Jaxon Binns
Jesse Depasquale
Josh Westra
Matthew Pearson
Brody Smith
Bradley Constable
Luke Dunn
William Burchill
Koby Grass
Ricky Mitchell
Under 12.2
Mitchell Mullins
Kade Perkins
William Battams
Konner Allcott
Marley Appleyard
Levi Bethune
Braedyn Bowden
William Deacon
Noah Parraga
Rahul Mittal
Kyle Parrott
Devlin Parker
Jake Hodgson
Ryan Adams
Ryan Mibus
Jack James
Under 14
Riley Clarke
Max Adams
Luke Hartley
Jai Lewis
Mitch Tielen
Darcy Taylor
Riley Doolan
Jack Burchill
Jason Ward
Jackson Luka
Josh Grogan
Trent McHale
Cooper Pursell
Under 16
Chad McDonald
Jason Cox
Mitch Thomas
Chase Blackwood
Darcy Jones
Harry Coe
Tyson Rodwell
Tanay Katarey
Jackson Berry
Lachy Ramage
Matt Ryan
Trav Bindley
Under 18
Zac Chaplin
Ben Parrott
Trav Wheller
Cody Miller
Matt Welsh
Marcus Coe
Bo Hellman
Jack McHale
Brannon Harrison
Tom Bethune
Joe Dalgliesh
Dion Gosling-Hanna
Brady Boswell
