The relationship with Bankstown District Cricket Club travels back to the origins of the Club, as the Cricket Club met with other keen sporting associations to create a hub for all local committees to gather to talk about their sport, that we now know as Bankstown Sports Club.

In recent years, the Cricket Club has been home to many NSW and Australian representatives such as Jeff Thompson, Les Pascoe and Mark and Steve Waugh; hosting first-class fixtures and international sides at their home ground, Memorial Oval as well as providing a clear pathway for junior cricketers in the area to go on to bigger and better honours.

However, one of the greatest achievements of the Club is the relationship with the Recreation, Sports and Aquatic Centre (RSAC) in Bankstown and the formation of the All-Abilities Cricket Program. David Clifton, the chief driver of this program, alongside a passionate crew of cricket and parent volunteers, holds weekly cricket sessions for people of all abilities to provide an avenue of fitness, fun and social interaction.

Focusing on hand-eye batting and bowling skills, as well as general fielding and fitness work on the main oval, these drills are created to raise personal self-esteem and confidence amongst the participants all while providing a pathway to representative honours for those who have the drive for that next level of competition.

The Bankstown District Cricket Club program has been recognised as one of the leading forces in All Abilities cricket in Australia and David says it is down to the fact that they don’t treat the athletes any different.

“We don’t modify our training until they can’t do it; we don’t assume they can’t do anything” is David’s motto when it comes to his training philosophy. The ideology that all participants should be treated as equal has shown an improvement of all athletes both physically and mentally, highlighted by multiple representatives for NSW and Australia cricket teams over the years.