Waroona Cricket Club president Mark Butler wants new facilities to bring junior cricket back to the town

The Waroona Cricket Club is hoping the installation of their new nets will bring a much-needed boost in player participation and a junior team back to the town.

The club currently has two senior teams and has not had a junior team since the 2016/17 season.

Club president Mark Butler said the new nets have been moved closer to the clubhouse and turf ground to make the facility more connected.

Mr Butler said the new practice facility had three nets instead of two, and he hoped they would be a sign of a bright future at the club.

“It’s going to be very important, the old nets were pretty run-down, so this will give us a lot better area to train in,” he said.

“It would be great to get a junior side because that’s where you get your players from.”

The new facility was opened on Thursday, with a junior cricket blast demo — which teaches youngsters to learn the skills to play cricket through fun game-based activities — taking place for kids aged four to 14.

Before the opening, Mr Butler said he hoped initiatives like the blast could rebuild cricket as a first choice sport for kids.

“We’re lacking a lot of senior players, so you have to try everything you can, and hopefully, we get a few numbers today,” he said.

“We want to keep running clinics, but it’s pretty hard, I think every small town is finding that.”

Mr Butler thanked the Shire of Waroona, and the manager of recreation services Daniel Cools, who he said had “been instrumental” in helping the club get the new facility across the line.