A FIFTEEN-year old Dalyellup College student will soon represent Bunbury as part of the under 21 Country Colts Squad for the 2021/22 season.
One of the youngest cricketers selected for the team, Cody Ryan competed in two 'trial matches' at Murdoch University earlier this month. He is one of 18 players selected for the Perth squad.
Cody, who has been playing cricket since he was five-years-old, is part of the Dalyellup Cricket Academy operating at the College.
He is also a member of the Dalyellup Beach Cricket Club A grade team, led by president and Cody's dad, Paul Ryan.
"I started playing so young because both my dad and my brother played," Cody said.
"I like every aspect of cricket because it's so fun with a lot of good banter."
So far in his cricket career, Cody has travelled to Melbourne to play for the WA indoor team, and was in the under-15s squad for the state team in 2020.
He said it felt great to be selected for Country Colts and that it provided the opportunity to further his career.
"It will be a great opportunity because we play against other Perth teams so it's a good experience," Cody said.
"I'd like to one day play for the WA Cricket Association, and then for the Australian Men's Cricket Team."
Cody has been a member of the Academy since he began at Dalyellup College three years ago.
He praised the program and Tim Bowen, Dalyellup College's cricket coordinator, as a great teacher.
Bowen, who is in his third year in the role, said Cody's selection was a massive achievement for the academy, but that his selection came at "no surprise".
"He puts in heaps of effort and he tries his hardest and is always willing to learn more," Bowen said. "He's really talented and he could definitely take his cricket somewhere career-wise."
According to Bowen, Dalyellup College is the only school in the South West that offers a specialised cricket program, with a handful of Perth schools offering the subject.
He said the academy opened doors for students to train at the College at a high quality training facility.
"I definitely encourage more students to give it a go, and that includes female students.
"We have a few girls involved already but we'd like to get to the point where we can offer a girls only team.
"This is an opportunity for more students that play cricket in the South West area to be a part of the Academy at the College."
For more information on the program, visit https://www.dalyellupcollege.wa.edu.au/?page_id=1183.