Meet the group of Canberra youngsters rushing to be a part of cricket's next generation and become the next Tim Paine, Meg Lanning, Josh Hazlewood or Ellyse Perry.
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Almost 500 Canberra kids have already signed up for Cricket Australia's booming Woolworths Cricket Blast - a rebadged Milo in2cricket program - ahead of the 2018-19 season.
The program is split into two cohorts - the "junior blasters" group for children aged five to seven with a focus on basic skills, and the "master blasters" group for kids aged seven to 10 playing in modified games in a participation-friendly environment.
Numbers have been steadily increasing for the six-week programs which Cricket ACT game development leader Martin Gleeson says is the first step towards boosting participation numbers at all levels.
"One of the key planks on the cricket blast centres has been the connection to their local club," Gleeson said.
"It’s very much the first step in the playing pathway, and with the junior formats now in place, the junior blasters and the master blasters are the perfect lead in to be able to play more formal junior cricket.
"It’s a great way to learn the game and to be more capable and more proficient as you get into the under 10, 11s and 12s teams.
"Whenever there is a new branding of a program, there is always a bit of a participation process that needs to flow with that which is now ongoing.
"It’s a pretty significant project that is being rolled out across Australia which is a pretty consistent program and age appropriate for kids being involved."
Cricket ACT already boasts almost 500 participants for the upcoming programs, which will kick off later this month, with more expected as the school holidays and cricket season begin.
Players get a shirt, bucket hat, bat and ball in their favourite Big Bash League team's colours when they sign up, allowing them to recreate their heroes' finest moments.
