The children, from St Edwards Catholic school, travelled to Sydney for the exhibition matches.

The eleven boys and eight girls, mainly from Year Six were urged on the by restless crowd.

They were lucky to get in any sort of match.

"They played on the fourth day of the third test match, and unfortunately that day it rained all day, and in the Australia and South Africa match, they only bowled twenty overs, so we didn't get to watch much cricket, but it was fantastic," said St Edwards Principal Ken McNamara.

"It's great to see country students from a small school displaying their skills on one of the greatest sporting fields in Australia.

"They'll take some wonderful memories with them into high school, knowing that anything is possible if you give it your best, and that working hard often brings rewards.

"Fortunately the curator let us play around the sides.

This meant that they were closer to the crowd, who got involved in the games.

The kids, in turn, were encouraged to try and hit the ball into the crowd.

"It was mainly a fun sort of game."

But "the games were played at a fast and furious pace, as we wanted to get in as much cricket played as possible. We only had the forty minutes at lunch.

"They weren't keeping score, but I think that both our boys and girls, if they were keeping score, they would have come out in front," said Mr McNamara.

This was despite some nervous moments for the students in the tunnel waiting to come out onto the ground.

The students played on the fourth day of the Sydney test match.

"They boys played in front of the members stand and the girls played in front of the Borongle stand.

"One of the boys managed to hit a ball onto the top of the member stand," said Mr McNamara.

The Canowindra students were supported by a contingent of seventy-two family and friends, who travelled down especially for the occasion and who all piled into the same bay.

As well as the day of cricket, some of the

students met the Prime minister and got autographs off some of the commentary team.