Buakcrognoi is situated in Tambon Nong Ba Klang in Chiang Mai city. It’s a medium sized school with about 380 students ranging from kindergarten to Matthayom 3 (age 16). Sawasdee cricket was first introduced to Buakcrognoi in March 2009. After demonstrations were held at the school, cricket classes were in the curriculum for grade 6 from May 2009. The initial class of 25 students soon took to the game and despite losing their three best players through the monkhood and moving schools, the team managed a creditable 4th place in all three tournaments they entered that season.
Since then cricket has continued to expand at the school with children playing from grade 2 right through to Matthayom 3. Now around 50 students are training regularly, and the class of 2009 have made the transition to hardball. CMSCA coaches have made concerted efforts to introduce hardball to the most promising players and since July 2011 ten players attend Gymkhana nets during school time as well as Sunday junior nets and the U-16 CMSCA League. Last season Jack, Yot and Tor were part of the Gymkhana Juniors U-16 team that won the championship. The current crop of hardball players will turn out for Gym Juniors again in the forthcoming season, but in season 2012/13, they will be ready to form their own school team.
The future looks bright for the School, the next generation of kids playing Sawasdee at the school have huge potential. The secret to the improvement is starting children out at an early age. Some have been playing since grade 2, and Buakcrognoi look set to challenge for Sawasdee success in the grade 5 competitions starting from November 2011.
The cricket at the school has also benefited from the intake of Hilltribe cricketers from the Hilltribe Sponsorship Programme. The younger ones have bolstered the Sawasdee teams, and a number of the older Hilltribe boys who’ve played cricket for Thailand are now passing on their skills on as coaches.
The class of 2009 Sawasdee cricketers, now in 2011 playing hardball. Right, Tor and Jack who played for league winners Gymkhana Juniors.

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