BENDIGO'S ability to host major sporting events has been given the tick of approval by organisers of this week's School Sport Australia 12-and-under Cricket Championships.
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School Sports Victoria national championships officer Howard Louis said Bendigo was the perfect venue for the cricket carnival.
"The Bendigo District Cricket Association, the Bendigo council and the clubs that host each game have made it a pleasure to come to Bendigo,'' Louis said.
"The venues are first rate and the hospitality has been fantastic.
"All the feedback from the interstate visitors has been positive."
Two rounds into the championships Louis has been impressed with the standard of cricket on display.
"There's some very talented kids here,'' he said.
"Obviously the bigger states were always going to be hardest to beat, but we're seeing some good signs across the board.
"Northern Territory have a smaller pool of kids to choose from and this championship is the first time the team comes together.
"New South Wales and Queensland have a very intense selection process and they have traditionally been very strong.
"In Victoria we work in closely with Cricket Victoria and pick our teams from our regions and that seems to work well.
"We've had a couple of one-sided results, but that's okay... this week is all about enjoyment and the kids learning."
The championships resume on Tuesday with the match of the day being the boys clash between Victoria and New South Wales at Canterbury Park.
Queensland and Northern Territory meet at Weeroona Oval, while South Australia clashes with the ACT at North Bendigo.
In the girls division, top teams New South Wales and Queensland do battle at the QEO, South Australia and ACT meet at Huntly and Victoria takes on Victoria Invitational at White Hills.
All matches start at 9am.