The school’s first nets have two full-length pitches and will also be used by Faulconbridge Cricket Club (FCC).

Bracken told students of his time in the Mountains during a special ceremony in the school hall.

“I always remember growing up here and the things you have to go through . . . When you leave school you actually realise that it was really good,” said Bracken.

The fast bowler, who also played for Springwood Cricket Club, reminisced about his time playing in what he admitted was a school side of modest talents.

“It was an opportunity to go out and represent my school, which I was proud of. Even though we didn’t have the best cricket team going around it was still a chance to go out and play a game, and play with a lot of friends,” he said.

The 32-year-old, who is hoping to return from a knee injury in early January, said he felt a little old when reminded he finished at the school in 1995. He has since gone on to represent Australia in five Test matches and 116 one-day internationals, including two successful World Cup campaigns.

Springwood principal Peter McSeveny said the school was fortunate to be able to invite a local success story to open the nets.

“These nets will be a bonus to cricket in the Lower Mountains and certainly our individual community,” said Mr McSeveny. “We hope that everyone who uses those nets can recognise that representing Australia has to start somewhere and it has to start with hard work and perseverance.”

FCC secretary Ian Fletcher said the nets would be used to ease the growing club’s training logjam at Lomatia Park.

The nets were built with some of the $200,000 the school received under the Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution program while FCC also provided financial and construction assistance.