New innings for State cricketers
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After a solid innings of study, exams and fundraising for charities, Rostrevor College cricketers Kyle Brazell and Sam Rahaley have dropped their pens and laptops in favour of bats and helmets for their State cricket commitments.
For Kyle, it is a particularly defining time, with his Year 12 academic results to be released within days and impressive performances at the U19 national championships last week, confirming him as one of the State’s most promising, young all-rounders.
When not juggling Year 12 studies with his training and playing schedule for college, club and State squad cricket, the Rostrevor house captain has been fundraising for numerous charities, including Edmund Rice Camps, which provide recreation and social opportunities for young people facing challenges.
“My prefect role also allowed me to build great connections with the younger students of the college through a buddy class system where we spent time teaching and assisting with their learning, which I really enjoyed,” Kyle said.
Last month, the A-grade student received the college’s top award for ‘Dedication to the Ideals of Sport and Sportsmanship’ and was presented one of six senior Christian Leadership Awards for his voluntary work and support of others.
Both Kyle and Sam have represented SA and Australia in youth cricket for more than three years and this is the second consecutive year they have been included in the U19 national carnival.
With a staggering 10,000 runs between them at various levels, the talented cricketers hope their recent performances will catch the eyes of Australian cricket selectors ahead of the U19 World Cup championships to be held in South Africa in January.
The pair has already had a taste of international cricket touring when they joined Rostrevor’s Sri Lankan cricket tour last year – a journey that also gave them an insight into a less privileged society.
Kyle said that opportunity “really opened up my perspective of the world”.
“We raised funds to buy cricket equipment for under-privileged cricket schools and it was very rewarding to see the joy on the kids’ faces who didn’t have much but were still very happy,” Kyle said.
Rostrevor principal Brian Schumacher said it had been rewarding to watch Kyle and Sam grow as “men for others” as well as talented sportsmen. He also congratulated 2018 Rostrevor graduate Joel Size who also joined the SA team this month as part of its bowling attack.
“Kyle has been an outstanding house captain and is a tremendous leader who is a strong role model for the young men around him both on and off the cricket field,” Mr Schumacher said.
Sam, 16, who has just completed Year 11 and played in both the U17 and U19 national championships this year, said he owed a lot to the teachers and friends around him at Rostrevor.
“The inclusive nature of the college brings with it a very caring and welcoming environment that helps massively with being motivated to learn and continue to grow and further myself in all aspects of life,” he said.
Rostrevor First XI coach Bill Trewartha said both players had the personal attributes and potential to play at the highest level and that the U19 tournament was an important stepping-stone for them.
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