Young cricketers living the dream

MANY young cricketers dream of travelling to another country to wield the willow or send down the perfect delivery - but for 13 students from Dalyellup College the dream became a reality.

Students in years 10 to 12 from the school's Specialised Cricket Program left for Sri Lanka on June 23 with coach Mike Knuckey for a 17-day trip.

The school won six of their 11 matches on the tour. Outstanding performances came from Troy Lewis (287 runs and three half-centuries) and Daniel Lomax, who scored the first century for the school as well as the first on international soil.

Knuckey said the trip was a great experience for the young players.

"It was a good win-loss result for us," he said.

"It was more about the experience they gained - from cricket as well as experiencing the culture and country."

Knuckey said it was eye-opening for the students to see how hard the Sri Lankans worked during the tour.

Lomax said he could not explain the feeling he had when he scored 125 against Kasun Cricket Academy in a big win.

"It was pretty good," he said.

"It was something I did not think I could achieve."

Lewis said the experience was life changing.

"If I could do it again I definitely would," he said.