I was very fortunate to be able to go on the ‘trip-of-a-lifetime’ to Sri Lanka, playing cricket for Lincs County, alongside 15 other girls.  There were about 40 of us in total as not only was there a girls team, but the Lincs County boys team travelled with us alongside all our coaches.  Some parents also came along, as supporters. Our flights were long, and via Dubai, so we were very pleased to reach our hotel that first night. In total, we had practise sessions and 5 games to play. These were against some very good girls and womens teams – cricket is the main sport in Sri Lanka, and played at various grounds, including at the fabulous International Galle ground, (which is on the site of an old fort).   

As well as the opportunity to play cricket, we also had lots of cultural and environmental visits included in our trip. We visited the cities of Colombo and Galle, and walked around the markets and visited the fort.  We stayed in the Yala National Park for two nights, where we had 2 safaris, and saw an abundance of wildlife, the highlight being the elephants and the leopards.  One morning we took a river boat trip through the mangroves, and finished off the afternoon releasing baby turtles into the sea.  This was one of the highlights of the trip for me.  Our last two days were both cricket matches, and after the last game, we had a prize-giving dinner at the hotel, where we all wore the traditional dress of sari’s. I loved this tour, and have had experiences and made memories that will last a lifetime.

Olivia 10A