Joe Burgess from Kiama Downs has been playing cricket since the age of five. Now at age 14 he was promoted by the Kiama Cavaliers Cricket Club to play first grade cricket, and played his debut game last weekend.

Joe’s dad Mark says, “Cricket is something that Joe has always been naturally into. He sought out opportunities himself, starting with Milo Cricket and progressing into Junior Cricket, until being picked for grade cricket.”

Junior Club Cricket, catering to ages 9-18, provides young cricket enthusiasts with a platform to experience the real game while developing various playing styles and formats to match their abilities.

In addition to his club endeavours, Joe has showcased his skills in district, regional and SE NSW country representative teams and school gala competitions at Corpus Christi High School in Oak Flats.

Joe's debut in first-grade cricket last weekend was solid in Kiama’s victory over Albion Park. He took his first wicket, a moment of excitement for the young cricketer and his teammates. Joe is eager to learn from seasoned players and he is a versatile player, with proficiency in both batting and bowling. For that particular game, Joe took on the role of a leg-spin bowler.

Looking ahead, Joe's dreams are high, but his feet remain firmly planted. According to his father, Joe is a dedicated and self-motivated player, open to the possibilities of the future. “While he may not know where his cricketing journey will take him, one thing is clear: he will continue to learn, play, have fun, and give his best on the field.”

Mark Burgess serves as the secretary at the Cavaliers Cricket Club in Kiama and emphasises that an influx of youngsters plays a crucial role in ensuring the club's continued growth and success, “The Cavaliers are great at fostering juniors into senior grade cricket. It can be challenging for a club when people move away from late teens, so it’s great to see more youngsters coming through.”

The Cavaliers have mixed teams for ages 8 to 17, a girls team, women’s team and senior grade teams.