The first hardball match of the new season is scheduled to take place at Gymkhana Club on Sunday 18th October 2015 when a team representing Lanna will take on the new Lanna Thais side in an exciting 25-over contest. This will give Lanna members the chance to see the progress made by youngsters in schools across the province of Chiang Mai after a full program of nets in Mae On as well as at Gymkhana.
Martin and Puy Papworth, along with junior coach Jun Aryi, have put so much effort into coaching during school time and at evenings and weekends as part of their work for CMSCA and the juniors have responded by quickly developing and developing their skills. The kids are looking forward to taking the field for Lanna Thais, bolstered by the presence of some veteran supporters of junior cricket.
Lanna's committee have seen the value of CMSCA's work and are hoping that Under-16 and women's matches will make up an important part of the new season which will also see a range of league and friendly matches, as well as matches against visiting touring teams and the second Lanna Sixes to be held in December.
The first cricket of the season has already been played with two Sawasdee matches held at Huai Kaeow School where the hosts played local rivals Sahagon Song in softball cricket where everybody has equal chance to bat and bowl. This is the first stage of the development program carried out by CMSCA that will see the next generation of Lanna players learn to love the game of cricket.
The Chiang Mai Schools Cricket Alliance carries out a great deal of work in schools across Chiang Mai which is largely unappreciated but schools in Huai Kaeow and Mae On now have their own hardball teams and practice at the new nets constructed last year thanks to funding from the San Miguel Chiang Mai International Sixes. Brocknoi School in the city also has their own team and practise twice a week at Gymkhana and the girls also practise regularly in Mae On and Gymkhana.