The chance to meet a cricketing hero on a tour of his favoured home turf was delivered to a group of young Mosman cricketers and some of their equally enthralled parents last week.
Australian fast bowler Brett Lee hosted the group of aspiring young cricketers on a combined behind-the-scenes tour and coaching session at the Sydney Cricket Ground on behalf of Mosman Cricket Club on Friday.
A former Mosman senior player himself, Lee said he enjoyed the chance to give one-on-one advice to the young players who may go on to play in the top grade for Mosman themselves.
"It's always great to be involved in coaching clinics with kids," he said. "Especially when some of them show real promise as they did today."
Mosman club spokesman Warwick Adlam said the 13 players earned the opportunity to train with Australia's fastest bowler as a result of an auction at the club's fundraiser held earlier this year.
"The club will be holding the same Sportsman's lunch at Parliament House on Thursday, November 22 where a similar prize will be available," he said.
After Lee had showed the youngsters the inner sanctum of the Australian Test team's dressing rooms at the SCG and took them on a walk out to the centre wicket, Adlam said the experience would be inspirational to the young Mosman cricketers.
"It was a unique and rare opportunity for them to experience and see where the likes of Bradman, Lillee, Warne and Brett himself sit in the change rooms," he said. "It was something they will never forget."
- BRENDAN BERECRY