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SYDNEY, Australia – As part of its development pathway, Cricket Ireland operates an overseas scholarship programme that sees an identified emerging Irish cricketer spend the Irish winter with Randwick Petersham Cricket Club in Sydney, and to work with elite coaches as part of the International Cricket Programme.

The partnership between Cricket Ireland and Randwick Petersham CC started 10 years ago (see story) and has involved some major names, including Harry Tector, Barry McCarthy and Andrew Balbirnie (see honour roll).

The International Cricket Programme (ICP) (see story) provides aspiring and current professional cricketers from around the world with the complete cricket and life experience. Aimed at cricketers looking to develop their game through a season overseas, the programme involves daily training sessions with some of the world’s best players and coaches whilst competing in state club competition. With most overseas players seeking more than one or two days of club cricket each week, the programme was set up to help cricketers maximise their overseas experience.

This year, CSNI’s Adam Leckey was selected to participate (see story) and has spent the last two months in Sydney training and playing in Sydney grade cricket.

During a tour of Zimbabwe in April 2025, the 18-year old struck four half-centuries in five innings – 66, 26, 52, 88 and 91* – and is in line for selection for the 2026 ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup early next year.

Speaking after a training session in Coogee, in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, Leckey said:

“The club has been so good in welcoming me both on and off the pitch. I am definitely enjoying my time so far! The standard of cricket has been surprising – all teams have so much depth – so, this has been an enjoyable challenge over the last six weeks.

“The ICP sessions started a few weeks back and have been enjoyable so far. I’ve been working with a few coaches, including ex-Irish international Trent Johnson and ex-Australian opener Phil Jaques – it’s been great to gain some great advice from them all.”

Leckey has been a key part of the Ireland Under-19s squad over the last cycle and is hopeful he will be on the flight to the Under-19 World Cup in January:

“The structure of the Ireland-Under 19s has been so beneficial over the past few years – it has definitely benefited me technically and physically, but also mentally. It aims to prepare you for future international cricket, and the life that involves, so I have loved the opportunities it has offered so far.

“Getting selected for the Under-19 World Cup would be a massive privilege for me – just to know how much I could take from an experience like that would be very beneficial to my game, I have no doubt.”

In early 2025, Leckey was involved for the first time in senior inter-provincial cricket through being selected for the Northern Knights:

“The inter-pros were a great experience for me at the start of the year. Simon Johnston [Northern Knights head coach] was very supportive, as I was in the middle of exams, by ensuring I didn’t put too much pressure on myself. I definitely enjoyed the challenge and hope I’ll get more opportunities in the future.”

Leckey is recognised these days as a batting all-rounder who bowls seam, however this has evolved over time:

“⁠I always bowled from a young age, but I was very small, so batting was always a struggle. Over time, batting became an addiction. I can’t say I prefer batting or bowling, although batting doesn’t hurt as much the next day!”

Born in Belfast, Leckey says his first cricket memories were putting on football shin pads, woolly gloves and a bicycle helmet pretending to bat at about the age of five.

When he started playing, he joined CIYMS Cricket Club before moving to CSNI where he currently plays. While he admits there are too many people during this time that deserve credit for making a positive impact upon his career, he highlighted three current coaches that have helped him push his game to a new level:

“⁠I have had too many helpful coaches over the years, so it is hard to name them all. However, in recent times. Stuart Thompson [ex-Irish international] has been a great role model, Simon Johnston, Pete Johnston and Nigel Jones have all put a great deal of time in to my development, so I am thankful to those guys – as I am to every coach who has been part of my career to date.”