SOME of Australia's best men and women at the crease were among the first to play cricket on the main oval of Blacktown Olympic Park's newest facility last week.
Fresh from the NSW Blues' Champions League Twenty20 triumph last week, Australian Test and one-day stars Simon Katich, Phil Jacques, Phillip Hughes and David Warner were at the Rooty Hill venue as part of Cricket NSW's season launch.
The NSW Women's Breakers side played the first match on the second oval two weeks ago and will train at Blacktown Olympic Park this summer.
The Breakers hope to win their 12th national women's league title in 14 seasons.
``This is an excellent, first-class facility at western Sydney's disposal,'' Breakers captain Lisa Sthalekar told the Star.
``Women were first to play here; we invented overarm bowling and played in a World Cup before the men.
``The Emerging Breakers squads have a lot of girls from this area. Some sessions will be moved here as it's a long drive to the SCG for parents who live out this way.''
Celebrations included a junior cricket clinic and the inaugural 10/10 match.
Players met former Penrith Panthers league star Greg Alexander, All Saints actor John Waters, former Yellow Wiggle Greg Page, television sport reporters Paul Cochrane and Tim Gilbert and Vega FM breakfast show host Tony Squires.