A  STRONG junior cricket squad from The Hills will tour Sri Lanka next year, under the banner of the newly-formed North West Sydney Bluetongues team.

The invitational side features division one or representative players who will play three games against quality opponents in Kandy, Jaffna and Galle.

Australian cricket legend Doug Walters is the patron of the Hills-based Blue­tongues while Ettamogah Hotel, Kellyville Ridge, is the main sponsor of the tour.

However, the most important part of their tour will be distributing cricket and sporting equipment and educational items to needy villages in the outstations.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime tour for the children who will be able to see how lucky they are and that they can make a difference,” the Bluetongues spokesman Glenn Smith said.

“We will be playing outside Colombo and are looking forward to visiting the villages too.

“The tour is the brainchild of Brett Thomas who lived in Sri Lanka for a year and said he wanted to do something like this for the village children there. We have been working since last year on the tour and are busy fundraising as we plan to send a container load of items to distribute there. We welcome sponsorships and donations for the trip.”

Coach Jason Benge said his players were looking forward to the challenges.

Junior cricket in Sri Lanka is of a high calibre.

The 40-member squad will include family members of the players.

To help with fundraising or donations, contact Jason Benge on 0409 069 353

The North West Sydney Bluetongues cricket team will tour Sri Lanka next year.