The bats may be different, but the results have been just as good.

Former NSW public school students, Travis Bazzana and Ash Gardner, have been delivering standout performances on the world stage resulting in a rare recognition and a World Cup victory.

Turramurra High School (on Darramurragal land) old boy Bazzana was named a Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star, becoming just the fourth-ever Australian to earn the honour.

The 23-year-old, who became Australia's only ever No.1 MLB draft pick when he joined the Cleveland Guardians in 2024, will play in Philadelphia's Mid-Summer Classic on July 15 (AEST).

Bazzana's talent had been obvious while he was at school, hitting the nets initially as a cricketer and blowing older students and teachers away with his batting skills.

"I've probably never met anyone like him in regard to goal-setting," former teacher Will Delves said. "He planned everything to the nth degree and then just went about putting in the work."

While Bazzana swapped bat-based sporting codes for his success, Gardner stuck with cricket; and just as well.

Now one of the most celebrated women’s players in the world, Gardner added a fourth World Cup to her collection when Australia dismantled England in the T20 decider at Lord's.

Gardner was at the non-striker's end as teammate Ellyse Perry struck the winning runs, capping an unbeaten tournament in which the allrounder scored 150 runs at an average of 50 and took three wickets.

Gardner, who attended Picnic Point High School (on Darug land) between 2009 and 2014, returned to the school in 2024 to see a mural created in her honour.

"It was a great school. I grew up in the area, and this was the school that everyone wanted to go to," she said at the time.

"From a sporting point of view, there was always a great opportunity to do different things, whether it was cricket or touch footy - pretty much anything I wanted to put my hand up for, I did."

A proud Muruwari woman, Gardner runs a foundation supporting Aboriginal schoolchildren through breakfast programs and sports kits, while encouraging them to finish high school.