Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has rolled the arm over to some of Moree's up and coming junior cricketers to mark the installation of new playing lights at Ron Harborne Oval.
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Mr Marshall attended a community barbecue and training afternoon hosted by Moree Plains Shire Council and Moree Junior Cricket Club recently to celebrate the oval's bright new future, thanks to $393,750 in state government funding.
He said day-night cricket would be the new format in Moree with the four new light towers up and operational.
The new lights have already had a positive impact with the Moree and District Cricket Association hosting its first night time twenty20 game last week.
"This is a project which I think will have long lasting benefits for the health of people in the Moree Plains Shire," he said.
"These lights, which are Australian competition standard, will make chasing down the runs a lot more comfortable for players, with games able to be played in the evening and out of the forty degree heat of a Moree summer.
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"Council has also used the grant to upgrade the facility to three-phase power which will aid its long term plans to make Ron Harborne and the surrounding fields the town's central sports precinct.
"Moree has so much to offer when it comes to quality sports fields and facilities and my hope now is with these lights operational we may see the organisers of regional sporting events choose Ron Harborne as the host of their next big competition."
Mr Marshall said cricket was one of the fastest growing junior sports in Moree.
"Over the past two seasons Moree Junior Cricket has seen a 37 per cent increase in its registrations which is great news for the sport at a grass roots level," he said.
"What I think is particularly exciting is Moree has seen a major increase in the number of girls and young women taking up the game which has resulted in a girls cricket competition start on Monday nights and the under 12s representative team captained by a young woman.
"I look forward to working with Moree Junior Cricket and Cricket NSW to continue improvements to Ron Harborne Oval, in particular with their efforts to construct additional cricket nets."
