Port Douglas junior cricketer impresses during Brisbane tournament
Cricket
Port Douglas local and junior cricketer, Banjo Jenkins, was part of the victorious Darling Dingos cricket team in Brisbane’s inaugural Brisbane Premier League (BPL) competition last week.
The 20/20 competition featured eight franchises and showcased the best 80 junior players in the state with Banjo being the only player picked north of Townsville, according to his father Ben..
The 11 year old was named Dingo’s Player of the Tournament and finished with an average of 58.10 for the tournament scoring two fifties including a match winning performance in the semi final.
On top of the great batting performances, the young keeper-batsman also performed admirably behind the stumps, claiming several wickets with catches and stumpings.
“Banjo plays with a maturity and poise beyond his years. He is one of the classiest batsman I’ve seen in a long time. He plays very traditional cricket shots and is beautiful to watch,” said Dingos coach Mark Alexander.
Banjo was talent spotted at the 2020 State Schoolboys cricket championships in Toowoomba. He said the highlight of the BPL was having Ian Healy approach him to play for his franchise the Northern Kings, an offer that he ultimately rejected in favour of the Dingos.
Despite this Ian Healy has taken a keen interest in Banjo and is helping to mentor him, Banjo’s father Ben told Newsport.
Banjo will play with the Peninsula cricket team that travels to the state titles in Bundaberg on November 13.
Banjo is a product of the Port Douglas Muddies cricket club and will play for Rovers in the Far North Tier 3 competition this season.