INVERELL indoor cricketer Rachael Kent has been selected in the Australian under-19 years team following the national championships in Sydney last week.

Rachael, who lives at Delungra and attends Inverell High School, played with the NSW side which finished sixth at the championships, which were held at Liverpool.

Rachael's second cousin Sharnie Kent played with the NSW open team at the Australian titles and was later named a shadow reserve for the national team.

The NSW open side finished third at the titles.

Sharnie attended Macintyre High School and now lives in Tamworth.

Rachael and Sharnie are not new to competitive cricket, with both girls achieving representative honours since they were 11-years-old.

Rachael has been playing indoor cricket since October last year in the Inverell night competitions and also representing Inverell in Superleague.

In the outdoor game, Rachael has represented NSW PSSA in Year 6 (2002), NSW Country (2004-05), NSW CCC (2003-05) captain North West under-19 years (2004-05), Sarah Andrew's Shield (2003-05) and Inverell representative (2002-06).

Rachael said intensive training for the national team starts later this month with fortnightly sessions to be held at Port Macquarie.

The national team will contest the Trans Tasman Challenge in Brisbane from September 30-October 7.

Rachael said Greg Sparke and staff at Inverell Indoor Centre had helped her game.

"I would like to thank all of my family and friends for all their encouragement and support throughout all of my cricket," she said.

Sharnie began playing indoor cricket at 11 and a year later she was playing Super league for Inverell.

She then progressed to playing Premier League for Taree and was later selected for NSW Country.

She has been a member of the NSW open team for the last four years and was a member of the NSW under-21 years development squad.

At school, Sharnie played outdoor cricket with Macintyre High and North West schools and was selected to go to England with the North West team.

When Sharnie left school she played in the North West open women's team for several years.

Now all her hard work at training and commitment to her sport has paid off.

She will travel to South Africa with the national indoor cricket team.

© 2006 Inverell Times

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