A Fingal winner for the 2022 ‘Find a Fast bowler’ cricket award

Fingal County Council’s Sports Office has sent its fullest congratulations to Balbriggan Cricket Club right-arm seam bowler Aadi Wankhade, who has been awarded the prestigious Cricket Leinster ‘Find a Fast Bowler’ award for 2022.

The award in its seventeenth season, has been established to identify the finest young fast bowlers in Leinster, and Aadi represents the third Balbriggan CC winner in the past ten years, paying testimony to the club’s continued efforts with its youth development programmes.

It is a rapid rise in Leinster cricket for 13-year-old Aadi, who only received his first senior club appearance on June 12th, 2022, for Balbriggan Cricket Club.

In addition to selections for Fingal, Leinster, and Irish Cubs teams in 2022, Aadi is now playing regularly in Leinster men’s cricket, with a career-best 4-24 vs Rush 3’s at Ringcommons CC, with a top score of 40 not out vs The Hills, showing he is an all-round cricketer to watch.

In a very inspiring gesture, Aadi has been invited by his idol, the Irish cricketing star Josh Little, to train with him and the Leinster Lightning squad in April.

Josh added, “Congratulations on your award Aadi.  Very humbled that I am your favourite cricketer, and I would like to invite you to attend a Leinster Lightning training session in April, so I can present your award but more importantly to bowl with you to learn first-hand how you won such a prestigious award”.

Albert Harper a devoted member of Balbriggan Cricket Club, was delighted to see another award in what has been a remarkable season for the club.  “Congratulations Aadi, I remember well the first time you came to club training and we could see what a special talent we had on our hands”.

Gerry Reardon, Principal Sports Officer with Fingal County Council, was thrilled to see yet another cricketing award come to a Fingal young cricketer.  “Congratulations Aadi from me and all the team at Fingal County Council Sports Office on your prestigious award.  I hope you enjoy a very special day with Josh Little and we also commend Josh for his efforts to show how together making a little time for others, can inspire us all to make further progress in the game”.