Cricket Ireland Overseas Scholarship Programme

During the New Balance Community Cricket Week in February 2015 and the subsequent Cricket World Cup Cricket Ireland and Randwick Petersham Cricket forged a strong partnership. With the support of the Randy Petes the Boys in Green were able to complete a week long training camp including a 50 over practice match at Coogee Oval.

During planning meetings Mike Whitney, President Randwick Petersham Cricket and Cricket Ireland Coach Phil Simmons, Manager Roy Torrens and Performance Director Richard Holdsworth as well as Event Directors John Stewart and John McLoughlin discussed the possibility of making this partnership a long term prospect.

Out of these discussions arose a Player Exchange program and in 2015-16 Barry McCarthy will be the first Irish player to participate in the Randy Petes / Cricket Ireland Official Overseas Scholarship Programme – the first official partnership between a Sydney Grade Club and an international side. This is on top of the Randy Petes hosting Ireland’s 16th man – paceman Graeme McCarter during the latter stages of the Cricket World Cup.

Richard Holdsworth, CI Performance Director commented on the partnership: “The Randy Petes have been a tremendous support to Cricket Ireland over the last year, with support for our World Cup squad and to one of our players in his development last summer. This new Overseas Scholarship Programme will allow one of our players every season to develop through the Randy Petes training and match programme which is fantastic news. Barry McCarthy has had a good season here and is one of our targeted players of the future, hence why we have selected him for this programme. The experience he will have in Australian conditions and the competitiveness of Sydney grade cricket will hopefully help develop Barry into an international cricketer. We thank the Randy Petes for this opportunity and look forward to many years of a successful partnership.”

Mike Whitney is excited by the partnership and the avant garde nature of the Randy Petes “Each year the Randy Petes are evolving and increasing our footprint in the cricket world. Last year we gained international exposure through our hosting of Cricket Ireland which was a special time for our club and an absolute privilege for all those involved. And now to be officially recognised as Cricket Ireland’s Official Overseas Scholarship Programme partner provides our club with the unique opportunity to play our part in developing the next generation of Ireland’s cricketers as they aim for a Test berth in 2020. What a massive opportunity for a Sydney Grade club!”

The Randy Petes are excited to welcome Barry McCarthy from Ireland ‘A’, Leinster Lightning & Durham CCC an all-rounder coming off a strong season with Durham CCC 2nd XI and made his first class debut for Durham 1st XI in September, will spend the entire Australian summer with the club and will also be heavily involved in the Randy Petes’ Sydney Airport Junior Cricket Coaching Program.

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