Welcome to West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Cricket Club, established in 1930 and now entering its 95th season in 2025/26.
We are one of the biggest cricket clubs in NSW, with 60 plus catering for all male & female pathway stages.
Our Cricket Blast (originally known as Kanga) was a pioneer in this form of the game within Australia and now goes into our 33rd year. Last season we registered our 3,250th Blast child!
Awards & Recognition
Since 2015, we have been awarded 15 x major Cricket NSW, Cricket Australia, SportsNSW and McGrath Foundation awards. The most recent awards are:
‘Inclusion & Diversity Initiative of the Year’ – National winner – 2023
On 16 May 2023, Cricket Australia named us as the national winner of the prestigious ‘Inclusion & Diversity Initiative of the Year’. This is for:
“…outstanding delivery of diverse and inclusive experiences by finding clever ways to engage and grow offerings’.
Photos: 1) Ruth, Kirsty & Danielle with the Award; 2) The Cricket Australia Inclusion & Diversity Initiative of the Year Award.
‘Women and Girl’s Initiative of the Year’ – National winner – 2022
In May 2022, Cricket Australia awarded us this prestigious award that:
“…celebrate the amazing work of volunteers from across the country and provide an opportunity to recognise the best of the best from across the season.”
Photos: 1) Cricket Australia Award; 2) Our new Girls playting uniform + female only Volunteer shirts.
Community Cricket Club of the Year – NSW
We won this prestigious recognition in 2017, 2019 and again in 2021. We were also the runner up in the Sport NSW Community Club of the Year 2017 Awards.
Also in 2019 we were nominated by CNSW as their nomination for the Australian Cricket Club of the Year for the ‘Sport for All’ recognition – finishing as runner-up.
CNSW commented in their recommendation:
“WPHCCC has been a great example of bringing people of the community together. The Club has proven that hard work and great volunteers can achieve fantastic outcomes for the cricketing community! The Club encompasses a number of attributes that we believe contribute to what is a great cricket Club.”
Community contribution
We are proud of our community contribution. In 2021 we were awarded the prestigious ‘Pink Stumps Award’ for being in the top 7 supporters, nationally, of the McGrath Foundation having raised over $70,000 for this great cause since 2011.
Important Information
Cricket Blast is a specially modified form of the game to provide introductory cricket activity for boys and girls between the ages of 5 – 6 years, using specialised equipment and simple rules – plastic bats and stumps, soft balls, reduced pitch and ground size.
We were one of a handful of Clubs who developed Kanga 32 years ago so we have a lot of experience in what Junior Blasters is about.
Cricket Blast is played for fun.
Along the way, our kids learn about the great game and are prepared for organised competition in the future.
There are 2 x playing options:
Saturday morning
Starts on Saturday 10th October 2025 until Saturday 19th December 2025. After a break, we start-up again on Saturday 30th January 2026 and conclude on Saturday 13th March 2026
Games are played between 8.30 am and 9.30 am. Teams have the option playing for an extra 30 mins until 10.00 am if they would like to.
‘Twilight Tuesdays’
Starting on Tuesday 13th October and follows the same timeline as the Saturday program
Games are played between 5.00 pm and 6.00 pm. If Teams would like to play for an extra 30 minutes until 6.30 pm they are most welcome.
The Blast Season is played in 2 sessions:
School Term 4 , 2025 (October, November, December) – 11 weeks
Registrations open from early June 2025
Cost – $100
Christmas / New Year break
Last game: Saturday 21 December 2025
Recommences: Saturday 31st January 2026
2. School Term 1, 2026 (January, February & March) – 7 weeks
Registrations open from December 2025
Cost – $40.00
The season concludes with special games and a presentation ceremony on Saturday 13th March 2026 at Edward Bennett Oval.
While registrations are taken throughout the season, it is advisable to register early so your child can play in the same Team as their school mates.
The cost of all playing gear is included in our Registration fee. The process to follow flows once you start the registration process.
Coaching gets a high priority. For Cricket Blast, parents typically coach Teams. They are supported by coaching guides continuously developed over the many years we have been running the Program.
An Introductory Coaching course is run before the season starts.
We also have full-time Club Coaches who attend every session to both support and ‘Coach the Coach’ whenever needed.
We also have an accredited Coach attend every day providing regular advice and guidance to our Coaches who require any support.
Our Club is a strong supporter of the Cricket Australia standards where children are involved. Checkout our dedicated section of the website on Child Protection & Safety for a detailed explaation – here
All matches are played at Edward Bennett Oval, Cherrybrook.
Our Club has a proud reputation of sportsmanship across all grades and especially in the Junior competition.
Why?
We have a formal policy of ‘Participation Over Results’ where each child gets equal opportunity to participate throughout the year – in all Grades from Junior Blaster’s to Under 17’s.
A copy is available on the website – please take time to read it. It will give you an understanding of what we expect of our players, and from you, as a parent, spectator or coach.
There is lots of parking available in the West Pennant Hills Sports Club. Enter the car park via 103 New Line Road.
Before the season starts everyone involved in Cricket Blast is invited to our Parent Information Night. This explains everything you need to know about the season and gives you the opportunity to answer any questions.
The date for the night is to be decided closer to the start of the season. More info will follow closer to the day.
It is important to be on time. Sessions run from 8am to 9.30 am, each Saturday and 5.00pm to 6.30 pm on Tuesday.
There is no midweek training. We ask that you be at the ground on opening day 15 minutes before the start, so that teams can be organised and introductions made. Your child will be allocated in advance to a team that is named after a famous test match venue (e.g. SCG, Adelaide, Lords etc…).
Where-ever possible, children will have been placed with nominated friends.
Please feel free to refer any questions about team allocations from parents to our Cricket Blast Director, Dani Chivers on 0408 597 645 or here.
Each Saturday, Team coaches conduct skill sessions on the basics of throwing, catching, batting and bowling, using drills and exercises from our own Skills Manual.
As these skills develop the children will be introduced to more advanced drills, and modified versions of ‘grown up’ cricket.
The size of our Club ensures a smooth development pathway for your child. After 2 seasons of Cricket Blast, children graduate to U8’s or U9’s team, progressing each year until Under 17’s.
From there, they can progress to Seniors, where we have Teams of all skill levels. The Girls pathway also takes players to the Senior cricket in the Sydney Grade competition.
Interestingly, many dads (and mums) have chosen to return to cricket to enjoy playing alongside their children in Senior cricket.
Beyond this, we enjoy excellent relations with Northern District Cricket Club, who play in the Sydney Grade Premier Competition – which is a stepping stone to playing for NSW and then Australia.
Current commentator and former Captain of the NSW Women’s Cricket Team, and Vice Captain of Australia, Lisa Sthalekar, was one of our Juniors.
Included in your Registration is:
Cricket Blast T-shirt with your name on it
Bucket hat with your favourite Big Bash Team
Plastic Bat
Rubber ball
Personalised bat stickers
In the event of wet weather, the Junior Blasters Director will make a decision by 7.15 am on Saturday.
If play is to be cancelled, a Team App notification will be sent out to all registered participants advising cricket has been cancelled. If you have any questions, please contact your team manager only after this time on a Saturday morning.
Remember, no notification means games are ON.
You’ll find out about our Club’s history, personalities, upcoming events and current scores from all teams on our website. Looking forward to seeing you this season.
More Information
Introduction
The WPHCCC has a “Participation over Results” policy in Junior Cricket – Junior Blasters, Girls and Boys. Coaches are encouraged to make sure that all players get equal amounts of batting and bowling over a full season – especially in the younger age groups.
For us, the development of cricket at a Junior level is more important than winning trophies. For our Club, success is about retaining or increasing the number of boys and girls playing cricket.
Please remember:
children play to satisfy themselves and not adults or members of their own peer group
cricket must be administered, taught and provided for the good of all children who want to play the game. It is their game!
Player’s Code
Cricket should be fun. Play because you want to.
Play by the rules and spirit of the game
Don’t argue with umpires. Never dispute an Umpires decision by word, gesture or action.
Sledging other players, deliberately distracting or provoking an opponent is dumb and not good enough. This includes unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and Team motivation.
Be a good sport; acknowledge good play, by your team and your opponent
Bullying or taking unfair advantage of any player is not on. This includes on-field intimidation and off-field bullying by SMS and/or chat-rooms.
Co-operate with your coach, manager, team-mates, umpires and opponents – without them you don’t have a game.
Parent’s Code
Parents are encouraged to actively participate wherever possible. Things like; scoring, umpiring or just being there supporting your child. Cricket, in our Club, should not be seen as a baby-sitting service. Your child will be the winner.
Remember, children are involved in cricket for their enjoyment, not yours
Focus on your child’s efforts and performance rather that winning or losing
Never ridicule or yell at any child for making a mistake – it is only a game.
Children learn best by example; applaud good play by your team and by members of the opposing team
Derogatory comments about your own team or other players is unacceptable
Respect Official’s decisions and teach children to do likewise. Officials are volunteers and without them, your child won’t have a game!
Differences (gender, ability/disability, cultural) are irrelevant – treat everyone with respect and dignity.
Spectator’s Code
Children play cricket for their own fun; they are not there to entertain you and they are not playing for sheep stations.
Be on your best behaviour; don’t use bad language, harass players, coaches or umpires
Show respect for the opposition, without them there would be no game – applaud good play from both teams
Never ridicule or scold a player for making a mistake during the game
Respect the umpire’s decision – always
Encourage players to play within the laws and spirit of the game.
Coaches Code
Young people participate for the fun of competing – not just the winning.
Think about measuring your success by the number of children wanting to play next season. Win/loss ratios are forgotten about at the end of the season and are not important.
Put things in perspective and move on after adversity – look for the learnings. It is only a game.
Encourage lots of laughter and a sense of fun
Make mistakes, give it a go – get involved and don’t take yourself too seriously.
Never ridicule or yell at a younger player for making a mistake or not coming first
Be reasonable in your demands on players’ time, energy and enthusiasm
Sudden change – practice adapting to it. Try players in unfamiliar positions and multi-skill every player
Operate within the rules and Spirit of Cricket and teach your players to do the same. Show control and respect to everyone involved in cricket. Encourage your players to do the same
Avoid overplaying the talented players; all young players need and deserve equal time, attention and opportunities
Ensure that equipment and facilities meet safety standards and are appropriate to the age and ability of players
Consider attending a Level 0 / Level 1 Coaching course run through the Club, on behalf of Cricket NSW
Any physical contact with a young person should be appropriate
Praise children in public but never criticise them in front of their peers
Give everyone a ‘fair go’ gender, ability, cultural background or religion doesn’t matter.
Umpires Code
Act on unsporting behaviour from both sides and promote respect for all opponents
Your behaviour and comments should be positive and supportive – you set an example
Anyone participating as an umpire, is, according to the Laws of Cricket, deemed to be an umpire. Accordingly, there are responsibilities imposed on them by the Laws:
Firstly, the person must act as a qualified umpire – conducting themselves in a dignified way, give decisions in an unbiased and impartial manner and not become involved in lengthy conversations with the players on the field.
Secondly, the players are to show proper respect to that person and the decisions given as they would a qualified umpire.
Penalties
People who choose to play for our Club do so knowing our expectations on behaviour. Should there be breaches of our Code the Club’s Disciplinary Committee will look at issues referred to it as necessary.
In our 29 years of Kanga/Junior Blasters we have not had one child injured. However, sometimes accidents may happen.
Your fees in part pay for limited Personal Accident Insurance cover (including Non Medicare Medical and Capital Benefits). Details of this insurance are available at www.jlta.com.au or by contacting a representative of the Club. We still encourage you to have your own personal insurance cover.
Further, as we are incorporated, every Volunteer (Coach, Manager and office bearer) is protected with a blanket Professional Indemnity cover of $20M and Personal liability cover of $1M.
Finally, thank you for your participation and support and we hope that you will have an enjoyable season.
