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Tales from Down Under, October 22
Chorley-based cricket star Luis Reece is currently playing for Sunshine Coast Scorchers in Australia and is sending back weekly reports of his adventures...
On Sunday, September 14, I said goodbye to my family in Clayton-le-Woods and began my journey to a life-changing experience in Australia.
The previous day I'd said goodbye to a wet British summer when Blackpool drew against Chorley in the Northern League.
At 18 years of age I've decided that a spell playing for Brisbane Scorchers is essential for my development as a cricketer and as a person.
It's a daunting and exciting challenge - and 27 hours after leaving the UK I touched down in Australia.
I was picked up by the Queensland cricket coach Jeff Thomas, the man who has done all the leg work for me and I'm extremely grateful to him.
I was to have a net at the Queensland Bulls stadium straight away, equivalent to a county cricket ground.
To my amazement I was netting next to the Queensland players, which included Australian stars, Matthew Hayden, James Hopes, Andy Bichel and Michael Kasprowicz.
It was a truly tremendous experience for me for a teenager from Chorley!
I then went to meet my landlord and house mate Bryan Haggarty, who I'm very grateful for taking me in.
That night was my first training session at Scorchers, my cricket club for the next six months. Later that night I was told I had been selected into the A grade side, which I was delighted with.
Saturday came, it was time for my first cricket game of the Aussie summer.
However, my first spell wasn't the dream start I hoped for as I struggled with nerves.
Lunch allowed me to regroup and carry on soon after and manage to bowl more like I can. I finished with figures of 9-3-18-0.
Sunday was my first one day game, where I had my first bat scoring a brisk 12 before edging one to the keeper. I then bowled two overs and took 1-1.
The cricket has come thick and fast and Canberra high performance squad asked me to play against the Bulls 2nd X1 side.
It was a good opportunity to make a name for myself. It was a one day game, however I was taken by surprise as to the quality of opposition as my first three overs went for 30 runs.
However, I came back at the end of the innings and finished well with figures of 3-61 off nine overs as they finished with 343 all out.
Next day was two Twenty20 games, and I played both. In the first game I took 2-22 off four overs and hit 22 runs. In the second I took 1-27 in four overs.
I must have done something right because they've asked me to join the Canberra high performance squad next year.
All in all it's been a great start to my six months Down Under.
I hope opportunities like this keep coming.
Life in Australia is a totally contrast to England - and I'm not just talking about the weather!
Luis Reece
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Weather for Leyland
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
