Cricket
Cricket at St Mary's College: CSSA summer teams Years 7–12 training Tuesday and Thursday 3:30–5:15pm on the Main Oval (Terms 4 and 1), 1st XI Saturday fixtures, Term 4 2026 draw, coaches, selection, gear and Junior Friday cricket.
Cricket is the College's major CSSA summer sport, played in Term 4 and Term 1 on the Main Oval turf wicket and synthetic pitches. The 1st XI plays two-day Saturday matches; other teams play T20-format Wednesday rounds. Years 3–6 play NDPSA cricket (Kanga-style modified rules) on Friday afternoons in the summer season.
Who can play
- Senior (Years 7–12): boys' and girls' divisions — Junior (Years 7–8), Intermediate (Years 9–10) and Senior (Years 11–12). Girls' cricket has grown to three teams; a Year 7–9 girls' side is entered in the CSSA girls' T20 division.
- Junior (Years 3–6): NDPSA Friday cricket, Terms 4 and 1.
Season
CSSA Summer season: Term 4 2026 (Round 1 Wednesday 7 October 2026) and Term 1 2027 (finals Wednesday 24 March 2027). There is no cricket training or fixture in Terms 2–3; the Main Oval is used for football and athletics. Pre-season nets open in the last week of Term 3 (Tuesday 15 and Thursday 17 September 2026, 3:30–5:00pm, Sports Centre nets).
Training (Terms 4 and 1)
| Day | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 3:30–5:15pm | Main Oval (turf and synthetic nets) |
| Thursday | 3:30–5:15pm | Main Oval (turf and synthetic nets) |
1st XI and Senior squads train both days; Intermediate teams Tuesday; Junior teams Thursday (finish 5:00pm). Hats and sunscreen are compulsory at training.
Coaches and team structure
| Team | Year levels | Coach |
|---|---|---|
| 1st XI (Saturday & Wednesday Senior A) | Years 10–12 | Mr Steve Harland (Head Coach, Cricket Australia Representative Coach) |
| Senior B | Years 11–12 | Mr James Whelan |
| Girls Senior | Years 9–12 | Ms Meg Doyle |
| Intermediate A, B | Years 9–10 | Mr Nick Papadopoulos, Mr Steve Harland |
| Girls Junior | Years 7–9 | Ms Meg Doyle |
| Junior A, B | Years 7–8 | Mr Ahmed Saleh, Mr Tom Brennan |
Scorer/team manager for the 1st XI: Mr Greg Fennell (parent volunteer).
Remaining Term 3 2026
No fixtures. Cricket students play a winter CSSA sport or a non-team activity on Wednesdays in Term 3 — see CSSA Wednesday Sport. Nominations for Term 4 cricket open on the Learning Hub Sport page on Monday 7 September and close Friday 11 September 2026. Pre-season nets: Tuesday 15 and Thursday 17 September 2026, 3:30–5:00pm.
Term 4 2026 fixtures — CSSA Wednesday (1:20–3:25pm)
Home games are on the Main Oval (start 1:45pm, 15 overs a side). Away buses depart the Senior gate at 1:20pm for a 2:00pm start.
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Wednesday 7 October 2026 | Aquinas College | Home — Main Oval |
| Round 2 | Wednesday 14 October 2026 | Sacred Heart College | Away — Millbrook |
| Round 3 | Wednesday 21 October 2026 | Loyola College | Home — Main Oval |
| Round 4 | Wednesday 28 October 2026 | St Bede's College | Away — Hillview |
| Round 5 | Wednesday 4 November 2026 | Emmaus College | Home — Main Oval |
| Round 6 | Wednesday 11 November 2026 | Marian College | Away — Riverbend |
| Round 7 | Wednesday 18 November 2026 | Aquinas College | Away — Kingsley Park |
| Round 8 | Wednesday 25 November 2026 | Sacred Heart College | Home — Main Oval |
Senior teams play their last Term 4 round on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Year 12 last day is Friday 23 October); Years 11 students continue.
Saturday fixtures — 1st XI (Term 4)
The 1st XI plays 40-over one-day matches on Saturdays from Saturday 10 October 2026, 9:00am–3:00pm (wickets pitched 8:30am), alternating between the Main Oval and opponents' grounds. Two-day matches are played in Term 1 2027. The full Saturday draw is on the Learning Hub Sport page from Monday 28 September 2026.
What to bring
- Sport uniform to school on Wednesdays (Term 4); College playing shirt and cap issued to 1st XI (whites for Saturdays, own purchase)
- Helmet with faceguard is compulsory for all batting and wicketkeeping (College supplies team helmets; own helmet welcome and recommended); protector (box) compulsory; own bat and pads welcome — the College supplies a team kit
- Wide-brim hat or College cap, sunscreen (SPF 50+), 1.5-litre drink bottle
- Rubber-soled cricket shoes or runners (no spikes on synthetic pitches)
Wet weather
Cricket is not played in rain or on wet pitches. If the Main Oval or the host ground is unfit at 12:00pm on Wednesday, the round is cancelled and posted to the Parent Portal by 12:30pm; players do indoor nets in the Sports Centre until 2:45pm. Rounds and Saturday games are also cancelled for 35°C at 9:00am or Total Fire Ban (Saturday: SMS by 7:00am). In extreme heat between 32°C and 35°C, drinks breaks are taken every 20 minutes and play may be shortened.
Selection
Pre-season nets and the first two Term 4 training sessions serve as trials. Everyone who trials is placed. The 1st XI squad (14) is named on Friday 9 October 2026.
Cost
Nil. Included in fees. 1st XI players purchase their own cricket whites (approximately $90 from sports stores).
Junior (Years 3–6) Friday interschool cricket
NDPSA cricket is a summer Friday sport, 1:30–3:00pm in Terms 4 and 1, played with modified rules (soft ball Years 3–4, hard ball with helmets Years 5–6, eight players a side, everyone bats and bowls). Teams: Year 3/4 Mixed A and B, Year 5/6 Mixed A and B. Coaches: Mr Daniel Ruiz and Mr Josh Pham. Term 4 Round 1 is Friday 9 October 2026 (home, Junior Oval). Kit provided; hats compulsory. See Friday Interschool Sport; contact Mr Daniel Ruiz, juniorsport@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au.
Contact
Mr Luke Ferraro, Director of Sport — sport@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au — (03) 9555 0100.