ACA Masters complete final tour of the summer in East Gippsland

Australian Cricket Hall of Fame inductees, Merv Hughes and Cathryn Fitzpatrick, were the marquee names of the Australian Cricketers’ Association’s (ACA) Masters tour of East Gippsland in Victoria on the final weekend of March

The ACA – the official representative body of past and present first-class cricketers – developed the Masters program in 2008 with a focus on the promotion of cricket. The program utilises current and past players to promote and grow the game of cricket in regional areas, as well as raising funds for local cricket associations and identify local talent.

The East Gippsland region was chosen specifically to assist the rebuilding of a community heavily impacted by bushfires last summer.

The tour featured clinics in Wy Yung, Paynesville and Lakes Entrance a T20 match against a local representative team at Orbost Cricket & Recreation Reserve on Saturday afternoon and a Sporties Function Night at The Orbost Club.

A scholarship valued up to $1,000 was awarded to a talented young player from the region, Lillian Strong, who will now receive unique opportunity to receive mentoring from one of the Masters players following the tour.

Six former Australian representatives joined Hughes and Fitzpatrick in the Masters XI. Greg Matthews, who played 33 Test matches and 59 ODIs in the 1980s and 90s was alongside Lauren Ebsary, Mark Cosgrove, Jason Krejza, Brett Geeves and Stephanie Theodore.

Rob Bartlett, Kathleen Hempenstall, Jayde Herrick and Rhiann O’Donnell, who all played at the highest level domestically, helped to form a formidable side.

Speaking on the ACA Masters program, Merv Hughes says the highlight of each tour is the reaction of the locals in the community.

“The ACA Masters is all about going out to country areas and giving back to the community.

“The eyes of all the locals, young and old, light up when they see stars of today and yesterday have a conversation about cricket and they realise just how much the game is a part of their region.