Regional Big Bash Carnival headed for Port Macquarie on October 6 and 7

Local boys Macquarie Coast Stingers will challenge teams from the Northern Rivers, Tamworth and Coffs Harbour at Wayne Richards Park and Oxley Oval.

The winner of the two-day carnival will earn a match on the hallowed turf of the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Cricket NSW Mid North Coast development officer Martin Garoni believed it was a chance for the Hastings to showcase itself and that it deserved to be home to a high-class sporting facility.

“The grounds at Oxley Oval and Wayne Richards Oval are of high quality and we’re in the process of building a new amenities building at Oxley Oval which will then make it even more attractive,” Garoni said.

“We continue to work with council around the Stoney Creek development to make sure we have something to cater for a BBL practice match down the track.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase our region.”

In hosting the carnival, Garoni felt it was a “real shot in the arm” for cricket on the Mid North Coast.

“The main benefit is the local people will get to see the development of the Premier League because these players are playing at a higher standard on a regular basis,” he said.

Garoni said Cricket NSW would also continue to put pressure on council as they pushed towards achieving the best result possible out of a facility planned for Stoney Creek.

“We want that to be a real mecca for regional carnivals on the coast because we’ve got an international stadium at Coffs Harbour, but we don’t really have that second-tier anywhere else,” he said.

“To be able to build something like that at Port Macquarie would be fantastic because Port has proven it’s very capable of putting on a great show and hosting things like this.”

If last year’s carnival is any indication, the two-day carnival could go down to the wire.

“Last year the team that eventually went through to Sydney wasn’t decided until the last game,” Garoni said.

“The Stingers won one game and were unlucky not to win another one.

“When you think these boys are only two or three wins away from playing a game on the SCG, it’s a pretty big carrot to put in front of them at the start of the season.

“They’re the best cricketers from the Mid North Coast, North Coast, Far North Coast and Northern Inland that all come together to play some quality T20 cricket.”

The Stingers will field another youthful squad for this season’s campaign, but will have the advantage of playing at home.

“We had a very young side last year but it’s going to be pretty much the same side again this year,” Garoni said.

“With all of these things, it’s always easier to play at home than away so we’re looking forward to putting on a good show.”