By JARROD POTTER
RICKY Ponting has been inspiring young cricketers for many years and it was his influence that inspired Cranbourne North all-rounder Kevin Seth to pick up his first bat.
As a four-year-old, Seth, now 12, was watching the national team play and when Ponting cracked one of his numerous centuries, it motivated the youngster to get into cricket to be like his hero.
“When I was around four or five I remember watching some cricket with my dad and the Aussies were in and I saw Ricky Ponting make a hundred,” Seth said.
“I started asking my dad how Ricky Ponting got to become an Australian cricket player and he told me and I said I wanted to be like him when I grew up.”
Making his mark in the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s representative teams and in the association playing for Hampton Park, Seth plundered 430 runs at a whopping 107.5 average, with four unbeaten half-centuries.
To add to those impressive batting numbers, he also claimed 16 wickets at 9.13 with a best of 3/4.
Seth was thrilled to get the call up to the School Sport Victoria schoolboys’ under-12 cricket team and wants to emulate his champion and smash his first century like Ponting.
“It’s really cool, I’m really excited about the championships,” Seth said.
“I know a couple of the boys in the team already, we play in the same academy (Bryce McGain Cricket Academy) and I verse them in district and its good to have a few friends you already know in there.
“I’d really like to make a century, my first 100, as you don’t have to retire because in under-13 and 15 you have to retire and I want to make one and bat for the team of course.”
Dabbling with other sports to keep fit in winter, Seth has also made the school team for Waverley Christian College for the year-seven and eight basketball.
He wanted to thank God, his family, cricket coaches and the Bryce McGain Cricket Academy for all their support so far.
Seth will represent School Sport Victoria at the School Sport Australia 12-years-and-under cricket championships being held in Darwin from 15 to 23 June.
