Trio pleased with cricket’s progress

By MARTHA DERUAGE
AUSTRALIAN fast bowler Mitchell Starc, pictured, with former test and one-day batsman Dean Jones and women’s wicket keeper Alyssa Healy were in Port Moresby over the weekend promoting cricket.
The trio arrived on Friday and met with the national sides — the Barramundis and Lewas — and held clinics for young cricketers.
Jones, Starc and Healy spoke to the country’s elite players sharing their experiences in international cricket and how they became successful. Starc, 28, currently recovering from injury, said it was exciting to be in the country for the first time and meeting some of the Barramundis fast bowlers.
“It was welcoming coming here,” Starc said.
“We had some session with the guys and talked to some of the fast bowlers, some of them obviously have the talent there.”
Jones, who had been in cricket for a long time as a former player and current coach, had his second visit to the country after 20 years.
“Cricket in PNG has developed over the years since I was last here about 20 years ago, the games, facilities and equipment have changed a lot,” the 57-year-old said.
“Seeing the young boys on the ground playing in the recent U19 ICC World Qualifier, had great skills and international standard.
“A lot of things have change, the attitude, the fitness the preparation and analysis has changed massively,” Jones added. Healy, 28, who was last here in 2015, encouraged the Lewas and wished them luck as they compete at the World Cup qualifiers in the Netherlands later this month.
“Coming here to work with the players is really exciting,” Healy said.
“Dean (Jones) is a fantastic guy and a really great coach and I know that that would rub off on the players and kids here, especially with the fast bowling talent that seems to be around in men’s and women’s teams,” she said.