Lachlan King will tour South Africa with the Australian under-14 cricket team. 84349_03 Picture: MATHEW LYN.
By LIAM TWOMEY
LACHLAN King lives, breathes and eats cricket.
The Point Cook resident has been turning heads in the sport since beginning his junior career with Werribee but it is in the indoor scene where he is truly in a league of his own.
King was captain of the Victorian under-14 indoor cricket team which competed at the Australian Junior Championships earlier this month.
After posting an outstanding tournament, he was selected to tour South Africa with the Australian under-14 side in September’s World Cup.
With a highest batting score of 51 and some ripping leg spinners in his arsenal, King is set to be a major weapon for the Australian team.
“It’s been a great experience. I’ve got to meet lots of fantastic people and I’ve been able to make heaps of friends through playing indoor cricket,” King said.
“We played a carnival and they picked about 12 kids to represent the country. Before the tournament I was hoping to be selected but during the carnival we were a bit surprised.”
King will have the ideal preparation in the lead-up to the tournament, as he continues his training at Maribyrnong College as part of the school’s specialised cricket program.
The 14-year-old is also aiming high when he lands in South Africa and is hoping to bring home the ultimate glory for the green and gold.
“Yeah I can’t wait to head over. Hopefully I can just continue to improve and we can win the World Cup. That would be great,” he said.
“We haven’t lost an indoor World Cup so I think we have a good chance.”
Despite excelling in the indoor scene, King isn’t about to give up on the more traditional format of the game anytime soon.
As of this season he will be joining Premier Cricket Club Footscray Edgewater.
“I like both indoor and outdoor a lot. Last year I played outdoor cricket for Werribee but this year I’m playing for Footscray Edgewater, probably in fourth grade,” he said.
“I’d like continue to do well in all my cricket and next year make the under-16 state squad for indoor.”
