Held on Main Beach, Forster, it was part of a two week inaugural beach cricket tour taking Women’s Big Bash League and Sydney Sixers player Emily Leys from Coffs Harbour down to Ulladulla. The Sixers Big Bash crew hosted a training session of beach cricket to a booked out class of just over 100 children. 

Activities were well and truly underway under the glare of the spring sun. Undeterred, children between the ages of 5 and 14 lunged, bowled and ran their way through the hour. 

“It’s good to see a lot of girls out here today,” said Emily, referring to a growing recognition of women in sport. Growing up in Gunnedah, she herself caught the cricket fever after years of playing with three brothers out in the backyard. 

“Cricket’s great. I mean, look where we are! I’ve traveled all over Australia and overseas playing, you can do it just about anywhere.”