Cousins make the grade for state team

Bendigo Weekly | Bendigo Weekly | 25-Nov-2011 3.46PM

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GOOD STATE: Jimmy and Xavier Ryan. Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN.
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Cricketing cousins Jimmy and Xavier Ryan will represent the state in January.
The Bendigo Cricket Club juniors have been selected in the Victorian Schoolboys Under 12 team for the national schoolboys carnival in Barooga from January 7 to 15.
From a group of more than 50 Victorian kids,  the squad was whittled down to an eventual 13, and both Ryans were named.
“It’s pretty cool, I’m rapt,” Xavier said, who has dreams of playing Test cricket for Australia.
 “I was extremely surprised to get picked and it is such a great privilege,” Jimmy said.  
“I can’t wait to get into it in January.”
Not surprisingly, both boys come from fine cricketing stock.
Xavier’s father Tony, was a Victorian Under 19 representative, and Tony’s cousin is former Australian Test coach Tim Neilsen.
His grandmother also played cricket for Australia in the 1940s, while Jimmy’s dad Mark is a Bendigo Cricket Club legend.
Xavier, a medium-pace bowler and opening bat, and James, a spinner and left-hand bat, proved that talent is nothing without hard work. Both train up to four times a week.
“I have sometimes been going to my dad’s training and have a bowl to some of the senior players,” Jimmy said.
Apart from premierships, and perhaps one day pulling on the baggy green, Jimmy has another goal.
“Hopefully I can play at least one game with my dad, I’m hoping that he can at least last another few seasons,” he joked.
The boys will attend training sessions most Sundays through November and December, and will play matches against Yarra Valley, Caulfield, and Mentone grammar schools.
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cdjhgl commented on 25-Nov-2011 02:35 PM5 out of 5 stars
Sexiest boys going around!!

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