NATIONAL representative Matt Panecasio believes more cricketers could benefit from a stint playing the indoor version of the game.
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“I think that indoor cricket, it is a different skill-set but it does help with a lot of your technical stuff as well with the batting,” the 19-year old Kiama resident said.
“It helps you to play the ball later.
“(Regarding) famous cricketers, Michael Clarke’s one of the main ones. He actually played indoor cricket as a youth and he’s an advocate for it. He says it helped his game a lot.”
Panecasio has been selected for the national under-22s squad when Port Macquarie hosts the Trans-Tasman Indoor Cricket Championships in September.
The event will be held from September 9-11.
It is considered a stepping stone towards selection in the 2017 Indoor Cricket World Cup in Dubai.
The 12-man Australian squad will have a three-day training camp followed by a five-Test series.
Panecasio is the only NSW representative in the Australian squad.
“They’re a fairly strong team,” he said of New Zealand.
“I think you’re always going to be over-awed at some stage. As soon as you walk on with any Australian gear on you and you have the national anthem playing, it’s a pretty big moment.”
Panecasio began playing indoor cricket aged 12, and both his parents have represented NSW and Australia in the indoor version of the sport.
The teenager represented his country in indoor cricket at under-16s level.
“It’s quicker too, which makes it interesting,” he said of indoor cricket.
“Fielding’s a lot closer, so you have to have quicker reaction time. It’s just a much faster game.
“You have to keep up with it. Fitness is really important.”
Panecasio previously played for Lake Illawarra in the South Coast District Cricket Association competition.
He currently plays fourth grade for Penrith in the Sydney club competition.
His father Tony also played for Lake Illawarra and is South Coast District Cricket Association president.
“I love both (indoor and outdoor versions). I’ve got a massive amount of passion for the game.
“I drive an hour and 45 minutes just to train up in Sydney.”
The all-rounder bowls right-arm pace, and said Matthew Hayden was a key influence on his aggressive batting style.
“I grew up watching him. I’m a left-handed bat and I’ve always batted in a similar way to him.
“I started off as a bowler only, but when I was 16 I had stress fractures so I had to work on batting as well.”
