New WA Cricket chief executive John Stephenson visits South West for fact-finding mission on country cricket

New WA Cricket chief executive John Stephenson was in the South West at the weekend for what he said would be the first in a series of visits to the State’s regions to build relationships within country cricket. Stephenson, who had a long playing career in England highlighted by playing one Test match before continuing his association with the game as an administrator, was appointed as the replacement for the governing body’s long-serving boss Christina Matthews in July. On Sunday he took in the Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association women’s first-grade grand final between Leschenault and Marist at Leschenault Recreation Ground, which he said was an “incredible” spectacle. “It was great to witness the passion, the spirit it was played in. The standard was really, really good, there’s obviously one or two really outstanding young cricketers coming through that we need to keep an eye on,” Stephenson said. “It was great to see, everything was put together with the volunteers, the families supporting, and the facilities are incredible. I’m really impressed with the whole set-up. “At the end of the day, we want to grow cricket in WA. Country cricket is a huge component of that, and it can only happen if the community get behind it. What we saw today was the perfect example of that.” Having officially started in the job in November, Stephenson said the importance of country cricket to WA cricket’s ecosystem had quickly become apparent to him. “WA has it’s own unique challenges because it’s so huge ... I do want to go to every region, it’s going to take a while,” he said. “We have staff that are scattered around WA to help country cricket thrive. We’re the umbrella organisation, we’re here to help. “Part of my mission this weekend is to get to know people and what their concerns are and their challenges are so we can support them the right way.” WA’s senior sides are captained by a pair of Bunbury products in Sam Whiteman and Chloe Piparo, while Dunsborough-born speedsters Lance Morris and Mahli Beardman have made forays into international cricket in recent years.