IN the trip of a lifetime, a Mildura teenager has travelled to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to play cricket under Aussie bowling legend Jason “Dizzy” Gillespie.
As part of the Under 18 Gillespie Academy team, Rylan Newey experienced a new part of the world while doing the thing that he loves most.
The young Nichols Point all-rounder found the experience difficult to put into words but said the trip was “a great experience”.
“I honestly don’t know how to explain it … but being around some new mates while experiencing a different country was a lot of fun,” he said.
The South Australian squad competed against other prestigious academies from around the country that included Dubai college, Rajasthan Royal, Zenith, Zenithj X1, Zayed and ICC.
When asked about the conditions when compared to Australia’s, the swing bowler said that there was plenty.
“It was basically a spinners’ pitch at most places and it was really hot,” he said.
“On the pitches it would stay low and pop up sometimes. It was very different for me.”
Despite this, Newey still had good figures with the ball, recording 2/3 and 2/7 as his best returns.
As a team, the Gillespie Academy managed to win five of their seven games.
Newey and his teammates were given a busy schedule that outside of cricket included trips to the world’s tallest building (Burk Khalifa), largest water park (Aqua Venture Water park) and fastest rollercoaster (Ferrari World) as well as cultural and religious icons such as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
“It was wonderful but I would never do it again I don’t think, only because of the expense,” he said.
“Just to go through it and have Jason coaching because his son was there too was great.
“He’s just really down to earth and what he’s done for cricket in Australia has been huge.”
Newey said that in the Middle East it was not uncommon for cricket matches to be played throughout the night.
“Cricket matches are regularly played at 4am over there due to the heat, it was very different to what we’re used to in Australia,” he said.
