By this time, the increasing time demands led to conflicts between the sports and were in one case delisted from a team due to a conflict of commitments. The twins progressed to East Hills Boys Technology High School, which had a history of producing Australian international representatives in a number of sports.Knight, p. 17. Aged 13, the twins were invited by their uncle Bourne, then the captain of Bankstown's first grade team, to trial for the club's under-16 team for the Green Shield and both were selected. Aged fourteen, both made their senior grade cricket debut in 1979–80, playing in the Fourth XI. The twins broke into East Hills Boys First XI in the same seasonKnight, p. 18. and achieved the same level in soccer.Knight, p. 19. In 1980–81 the brothers were elevated to the Third XI mid-season. Mark's performance in the Green Shield saw him selected in Bankstown's under-21 team, still aged 15.Knight, pp. 20–21. The brothers often won formed a two-man team—in one match, Mark scored a century and then the brothers took 16/85 between them.Knight, p. 21. At the end of 1980, the twins were selected in the state under-16 team for the national carnival, with Mark as vice-captain.Knight, p. 22.
By this time, the increasing time demands led to conflicts between the sports and were in one case delisted from a team due to a conflict of commitments. The twins progressed to East Hills Boys Technology High School, which had a history of producing Australian international representatives in a number of sports.Knight, p. 17. Aged 13, the twins were invited by their uncle Bourne, then the captain of Bankstown's first grade team, to trial for the club's under-16 team for the Green Shield and both were selected. Aged fourteen, both made their senior grade cricket debut in 1979–80, playing in the Fourth XI. The twins broke into East Hills Boys First XI in the same seasonKnight, p. 18. and achieved the same level in soccer.Knight, p. 19. In 1980–81 the brothers were elevated to the Third XI mid-season. Mark's performance in the Green Shield saw him selected in Bankstown's under-21 team, still aged 15.Knight, pp. 20–21. The brothers often won formed a two-man team—in one match, Mark scored a century and then the brothers took 16/85 between them.Knight, p 21. At the end of 1980, the twins were selected in the state under-16 team for the national carnival, with Mark as vice-captain.Knight, p. 22.