THERE aren’t many better birthday presents than receiving a cricket scholarship to England, and East Ballarat all-rounder Peter Colbourne will testify to that after last night accepting the coveted Cricket Willow UK Scholarship award.
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Colbourne, who received the news on his 22nd birthday, was presented with the award by Central Highlands Regional Cricket manager Campbell Waring and Cricket Willow sponsor Ian Tinetti at last night’s CH 2013-2014 cap presentation night.
He will play a season of cricket for the Houghton Main Cricket Club in the South Yorkshire League between April and September, before using the remainder of the year to travel abroad.
“It’s just an unbelievable opportunity for me,” Colbourne said.
“I’ve never been overseas before and I think playing over in England will be a fair challenge – the wickets over there are fairly different to the ones here and it’ll take time to adjust to the conditions.”
“I also like to coach the juniors and I’m sure I’ll be able to learn a lot over there in that respect.”
Colbourne is a former Central Highlands Pathways representative, and has had a solid year as a top order batsmen and medium pace for East Ballarat, which sits fourth on the ladder.
He is studying a Bachelor of Sport Exercise at Federation University and has coached juniors at Shaun Brown Cricket Camps and conducts Active-After School Programs for the Australian Sports Commission.
As part of the award Colbourne will receive a full kit of Jabaroo cricket gear.
“It’s an opportunity that I wish I’d had when I was younger,” Tinetti said.
“It’s feels great to be able to sponsor someone to go into the English cricket area who might be able to bring something back”
“It’s a whole other scope, a whole other world and a very rare opportunity.”
