Cricket: Enormous challenge for Miller

New community development officer for Central Otago Willie Miller will move to Alexandra this...
New community development officer for Central Otago Willie Miller will move to Alexandra this weelend. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
Who better to promote cricket in Central Otago than a lad from the Maniototo.

Willie Miller grew up in the area and is passionate about the sport.

The 22-year-old right-arm pace bowler honed his skills playing age-group cricket for Otago Country and would like to play Hawke Cup cricket for the region some day.

In the meantime, he has been charged with developing and promoting the game.

He was appointed community development officer last month and plans to move to Alexandra this weekend.

He has been based in Dunedin and operating out of the Otago Cricket Association offices at the University Oval since accepting the role.

''I started midway through August ... and there has not been a heck of a lot to do yet,'' Miller said.

''I'm still getting to know the role and what they want me to do. I'm getting my head around it and getting to meet people.

''There is some administration as well and getting hold of schools and clubs.''

Miller anticipates much of his time will be spent visiting schools in the area and making sure the pupils have an opportunity to play the game.

''We are aiming to see every primary school in Otago country so that we can do the fundamentals skill bases with them. I'll be running through catching, batting and bowling for new entrants right up to year 8.''

The other key priority is to assist the junior clubs to run smoothly.

''It is really about making sure every kid that wants to play cricket gets the opportunity. At the end of the day, it is about as many kids having fun and playing cricket as we can.''

While what Miller says sounds simple enough, he actually has an enormous challenge ahead.

Cricket is really struggling at its grass roots. New Zealand Cricket released a report last year which looked into the health of the game and some of the key findings were concerning.

Since 2000 there has been a 42% drop in participation by secondary school pupils.

Cricket was often perceived as ''boring, time consuming and costly'' and was not among the top 10 regular sports played by young people.

But Miller hopes the sport will receive a boost in the region with the Otago Volts playing two one-day games at Molyneux Park in late December.

The Otago Sparks will also play three games at the venue in the new year, and a districts under-15 boys tournament is scheduled for mid-December.

''Getting a professional side to play in Alexandra is pretty big,'' Miller said.

Molyneux Park functions as a kind of a sporting hub for Central Otago.

It brings people together and there is nothing more inspiring, Miller said, than seeing your heroes up close.

It is great platform for him to promote the game.

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