Top trip for Colts skipper
It takes a lot to ruffle the feathers of Colts Cricket Club skipper Cruize Ciallella, who has returned home after representing WA Country at the 2020 Toyota Australian Country Cricket Championships in Queensland.
Even when the dynamic playmaker suffered a carnival-ending shoulder injury during the warm-up of his side’s second pool match against South Australia, he refused to let his misfortune rain on an unforgettable journey.
“The whole experience is pretty full on,” Ciallella, pictured, said. “You get up, have breakfast and have to be gone by 8am and head to the ground.
“We did not leave there until about 5.30pm-6pm or even later. You then would have a recovery session and jump in the pool or some ice baths ... by the time you have your dinner in the end, it is around 9.30pm-10pm.
“You do not get that much time to switch off — apart from probably at dinner, where you can have a beer and feed with your mates.
“It was really good and they are probably the best bunch of guys I’ve played cricket with overall. It really was an exciting, good group.”
The severity of Ciallella’s injury is currently unknown, with his return to BDCA duties yet to be determined.
“It was during the warm-up before the second game, we were batting and I thought I would take a few extra catches,” he said.
“I went for a dive, landed on my elbow and it popped out. I now have to get an MRI at some stage this week and find out the extent of the injury.”
When he does return to club cricket, Ciallella is keen to pass on knowledge he learnt from respected WA Country coach Tim Edmunds, who despite the grand final loss against Victoria remains one of the State’s brightest cricketing minds.
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