For Dalyellup College’s top-tier cricket squad, the chance to play overseas cannot come soon enough.
The team is heading to Sri Lanka in June to play 20/20 and limited overs games against teams from Kandy and Galle.
The students will also be conducting charity work and donating equipment to multiple schools.
The 18-day, 16-game trip marks the school’s third venture to Sri Lanka for the tournament.
The journey is part of the school’s Specialist Cricket Program, with the trips to Sri Lanka taking place every two years.
Dalyellup College is the only Australian side involved in this year’s competition.
Dalyellup College deputy principal Jamie Senbergs, having attended previous tours, was delighted for the students.
Mr Senbergs said the journey taught them how to show respect for other cultures and represent Australia overseas.
“Some of the schools we play are a mix between quite privileged to quite poor schools,” he said.
“It’s an amazing place to play in, there’s a lot of culture and it’s a completely different side of the world.
“For some of our kids, not only is it their first international tour but some of them will be getting their first international centuries or first international 50s or first international wickets.”
Year 12 specialist cricket program students Josh Freeman and Josh Bennett felt proud to be representing their school on the world stage.
They said the program made them part of a cohesive group and helped them to hone their skills.
The program, run for four periods per week by teacher and coach Michael Knuckey, puts students to the test in bowling, batting, fielding, umpiring, cricket history, team building and captaincy.
“Kids can actually enrol from other schools to be a part of the specialist program,” Mr Senbergs said.
“They have games here against schools in the Bunbury region, then they compete against other specialist schools from Perth and also do trips to Narrogin and interstate trips to Queensland.”
Since its inception in 2009, the program has grown annually to include male and female students from each year group.