One of the region’s best young cricketers (and an emerging tearaway with the ball in hand), has recently been selected among an elite group of prospective stars of the future under a long-running scholarship scheme.

Dubbo College Year 11 student, Austin Hunt, has been invited to enter the Basil Sellers Emerging Player Program as one of the top dozen kids on the scene statewide.

A right arm fast bowler, Austin has progressed rapidly through the NSW elite junior pathways programs through selection in the NSW Country Under 17s side and the NSW Country Under 19s Boys Cricket Academy squad. He was also a member of the NSW All Schools Under 15 team at the Australian Schools Championships.

The program, made possible by the generosity of Cricket NSW Vice Patron and Life Member, Basil Sellers AO, provides a cohort of the state’s most promising players with skills and opportunities to further their transition to elite cricket.

Scholars will receive support across a range of areas, including leadership and mindset development, access to Cricket NSW high-performance facilities, financial support and an equipment sponsorship offer from Kookaburra Sports.

The program is administered by the Cricket NSW Foundation and Cricket Performance team with Cricket NSW Chief Cricket Performance Officer, Greg Mail, saying the initiative has a great track record of success.

“Of the 179 scholars to have participated in the program, 99 have gone on to play professional cricket, with 26 representing Australia, including some of our sport’s biggest names – Pat Cummins, Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, and Steve Smith,” Mr Mail revealed.

“We look forward to welcoming the 21st cohort of scholars to Cricket Central this year and thank Basil for his commitment to our elite pathways and participants,” he added

Having played professional cricket himself for so long, Cricket NSW Foundation Director Moises Henriques said that he knows that success in the game never comes without support.

“Programs like this provide a platform for cricketers to develop on and off the field while lessening the financial burden on them and their families,” Henriques said.

“The Cricket NSW Foundation thanks Basil for his ongoing support of our next generation of cricketers, and we wish every scholar success in their careers,” he concluded.