TWO Midland-Guildford players have been awarded the inaugural Hayward Aboriginal Scholarship by the WA Cricket Foundation.

The scholarship is named after Noongar Elder Professor Colleen Hayward and was awarded to 16-year-old Veronica Keen and 17-year-old Hayden Collins.

The scholarship is available annually for two Aboriginal cricketers participating in WA Crickets Aboriginal Talent Academy and helps recipients with training, travel, equipment and medical costs associated with cricketing development.

Keen plays in the Midland Guildford female A grade and was recently selected as part of the Aboriginal state XI tour to Alice Springs where she captained the side and was named player of the series.

She has also been selected in the U16 state squad in 2022, and this year will be part of the WA female academy side for the 2023-24 season. Keen was also one of the inaugural members of the Rod Marsh Wicketkeeping Academy (Rod Marsh Academy launched for keepers, Echo News, October 6).

Collins plays in the Midland Guildford men’s 2nd grade, and in 2022 he was part of the state U17 squad where he scored 1000 runs before the Christmas break, including multiple hundreds.

Collins will also fly to Melbourne to attend an Australian Indigenous training camp.

WA Cricket head of philanthropy Carolyn Turner said WA Cricket is committed to providing opportunities for up-and-coming cricketers.

“We are excited to follow Veronica and Hayden’s journey over the next year,” she said.

“This scholarship will assist the recipients in further progressing their development with the aim of achieving a higher Aboriginal representation in first-class cricket in Western Australia.”