INSIDE SHANE WATSON ALYSSA HEALY BURT COCKLEY - 2009 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TWENTY20 SPECIAL LIFTOUT - CRICKET NSW
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Issue 17 / October 2009
inside
SHANE WATSON
ALYSSA HEALY
BURT COCKLEY
plus 2009 Champions League
Twenty20 Special Liftout
09/10 FIXTURES
WEET-BIX SHEFFIELD SHIELD
Home Away Venue Date
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Western Australia SCG Tue 3 - Fri 6 Nov 2009
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Tasmania SCG Tue 17 - Fri 20 Nov 2009
Western Australia RTA SpeedBlitz Blues WACA Ground Fri 27 - Mon 30 Nov 2009
Queensland RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Gabba Fri 11 - Mon 14 Dec 2009
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Victoria Newcastle Fri 18 - Mon 21 Dec 2009
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Queensland SCG Fri 29 Jan - Mon 1 Feb 2010
Victoria RTA SpeedBlitz Blues MCG Fri 12 - Mon 15 Feb 2010
South Australia RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Adelaide Oval Fri 19 - Mon 22 Feb 2010
Tasmania RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Bellerive Oval Wed 3 - Sat 6 Mar 2010
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues South Australia SCG Wed 10 - Sat 13 Mar 2010
FINAL Wed 17 – Sun 21 Mar 2010 WOMEN’S NATIONAL CRICKET LEAGUE
Note: Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield Final to be broadcast on FOX SPORTS
Home Away Venue Date
FORD RANGER CUP NSW Breakers Queensland North Sydney Oval Sat, 7 Nov 2009
Home Away Venue Date
NSW Breakers Queensland North Sydney Oval Sun, 8 Nov 2009
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Western Australia North Sydney Oval * Sun, 1 Nov 2009
ACT NSW Breakers Manuka Oval Sat, 21 Nov 2009
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Tasmania North Sydney Oval * Sun, 15 Nov 2009
ACT NSW Breakers Manuka Oval Sun, 22 Nov 2009
Western Australia RTA SpeedBlitz Blues WACA Ground D/N * Wed, 25 Nov 2009
NSW Breakers Victoria Manly Oval Sat, 12 Dec 2009
NTCA Ground,
Tasmania RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Sat, 5 Dec 2009 NSW Breakers Victoria Manly Oval Sun, 13 Dec 2009
Launceston
Queensland RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Gabba D/N * Wed, 9 Dec 2009 Western Australia NSW Breakers Trinity College, Perth Fri, 8 Jan 2010
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Victoria SCG D/N * Wed, 23 Dec 2009 Western Australia NSW Breakers WACA Sat, 9 Jan 2010
North Dalton Park, NSW Breakers South Australia Bankstown Oval Fri, 15 Jan 2010
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues South Australia Tue, 26 Jan 2010
Wollongong
NSW Breakers South Australia Bankstown Oval Sat, 16 Jan 2010
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Queensland SCG D/N * Wed, 3 Feb 2010
FINAL Sat, 30 Jan 2010
Victoria RTA SpeedBlitz Blues MCG D/N * Wed, 10 Feb 2010
South Australia RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Adelaide Oval D/N * Wed, 24 Feb 2010
WOMEN’S DOMESTIC TWENTY20
FINAL *Sun, 28 Feb 2010
Home Away Venue Date
Note: * Denotes matches to be broadcast on FOX SPORTS
NSW Breakers Queensland North Sydney Oval Fri, 6 Nov 2009
KFC TWENTY20 BIG BASH ACT NSW Breakers Manuka Oval Fri, 20 Nov 2009
Home Away Venue Date
NSW Breakers Victoria Manly Oval Fri, 11 Dec 2009
Tasmania RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Bellerive Oval Wed, 30 Dec 2009
Tasmania NSW Breakers Bellerive Oval * Wed, 30 Dec 2009
Victoria RTA SpeedBlitz Blues MCG Sat, 2 Jan 2010
Western Australia NSW Breakers WACA * Sun, 10 Jan 2010
Western Australia RTA SpeedBlitz Blues WACA Ground Tue, 5 Jan 2010
ANZ Stadium,
NSW Breakers South Australia * Sun, 17 Jan 2010
ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Queensland Wed, 13 Jan 2010
Sydney Olympic Park
FINAL ** Sat, 23 Jan 2010
ANZ Stadium, Note: * Double-header matches with KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. ** Final to be broadcast on FOX SPORTS
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues South Australia Sun, 17 Jan 2010
Sydney Olympic Park
QUALIFYING FINAL Tue, 19 Jan 2010
FINAL Sat, 23 Jan 2010
Note: All KFC Twenty20 Big Bash matches to be broadcast on FOX SPORTS
2 Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
Issue 17 / October 2009
Go Blues, published by:
Contents
5 FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
6 WELCOME WATTO!
Meet RTA SpeedBlitz Blues’ newest recruit - Australian all-rounder
Shane W
atson.
GRAPHICS
Level Two 645 Harris Street
Ultimo Sydney Australia 2007
8 MAKING A NAME
Tel: + 612 9211 0775 Alyssa Healy bears a famous surname but is starting to make her
Fax: + 612 9211 0780
own mark on cricket.
10 STATE OF THE GAME
Cricket NSW Chief Executive, David Gilbert, discusses the
changing face of cricket.
13 IN THE PRESENCE OF KINGS
Up-and-coming RTA SpeedBlitz Blues fast bowler, Burt Cockley,
had the learning experience of a lifetime during the 2009 Indian
Premier League.
17 RTA SPEEDBLITZ BLUES SQUAD
Cricket NSW
PO Box 333 Paddington NSW 2021 Who’s made the squad for the 2009/10 summer?
Ph: + 61 2 8302 6000
www.cricketnsw.com
21 NSW BREAKERS SQUAD
Editor: Sudesh Arudpragasam Meet the players challenging for a fifth consecutive WNCL title
Contributors: David Townsend, David Gilbert
Photos: Delly Carr, Getty Images this summer!
23 DOUBLE THE ACTION
This is another massive summer for women’s cricket with new
teams and a new competition.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPECIAL LIFTOUT
The inaugural Airtel Champions League Twenty20 is about to
get underway in India. Check out this special liftout for special
issue 17 / October 2009 tournament features.
iNSidE
SHANE WATSON
ALYSSA HEALY
BURT COCKLEY
pLUS 2009 CHAmpiONS LEAgUE
TWENTY20 SpECiAL LifTOUT
Front Cover: RTA SpeedBlitz Blues captain
Simon Katich.
Photo: Delly Carr
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com 3
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FROM THE
CHIEF
EXECUTIVE
Welcome to the 2009/10 summer of cricket.
This is one of the most exciting starts to a season ever experienced games and six Twenty20 matches, as part of a new domestic
in NSW with the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues currently in India competing women’s competition. The Breakers are aiming for a fifth
in the inaugural Champions League Twenty20. consecutive WNCL title this summer, and 12th overall, as well as
the chance to become the inaugural women’s Twenty20 champions
The tournament features the 12 leading domestic Twenty20 teams and play the Final live on Fox Sports!
from around the world - representing Australia, South Africa, India,
England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies. The teams On the international scene, we welcome the West Indies and
will compete in front of frenzied Indian crowds, and a massive World Twenty20 Champions, Pakistan. The Sydney Cricket Ground
global television audience, for a first prize of $US 2.5M. will host the New Year’s 3 mobile Second Test Match against
Pakistan, as well as One-Day Internationals against both sides, and
NSW will field a virtual international strength line up with Simon a Twenty20 International against the West Indies.
Katich, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Nathan Hauritz and Nathan
Bracken joining forces with rising stars Phillip Hughes, Aaron Bird, For Australia, these matches will go a long way to regaining their
David Warner, Doug Bollinger and Moises Henriques, who helped mantle as the number one Test and ODI team in the world and
win last summer’s KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. I urge all fans to support Ricky Ponting and his team by attending
these matches.
Back home, there is just as much to look forward to. The RTA
SpeedBlitz Blues face the challenge of defending their KFC Twenty20 In August, Cricket NSW’s new western Sydney base at Blacktown
Big Bash title with this summer’s competition set to be even more Olympic Park was officially opened. Featuring a five lane indoor
explosive. A number of international players will be heading ‘down practice facility, 22 turf and synthetic outdoor practice nets, a
under’ for this season’s ‘Big Bash’ including West Indians Chris floodlit First Class standard No.1 oval and a First Grade standard
Gayle (Western Australia) and Dwayne Bravo (Victoria), and Sri No.2 oval, this state-of-the-art facility is the most significant cricket
Lankans Muttiah Muralitharan (Victoria), Lasith Malinga (Tasmania) development in Australia since Allan Border Field in Brisbane was
and Ajantha Mendis (South Australia). Cricket NSW has formally opened 15 years ago. An inspection of this outstanding facility is
approached the Sri Lankan captain, Kumar Sangakkara, conditional highly recommended!
on him being available for all ‘Big Bash’ matches.
We have also recently upgraded the lighting at the Power
The RTA SpeedBlitz Blues will play two ‘Big Bash’ matches this Education Indoor Cricket Centre at the SCG. The Indoor Centre has
summer at ANZ Stadium, against Queensland on January 13, and serviced the needs of cricketers of all levels since its opening in
South Australia on January 17, which will also be a double header 1997 however the much improved lighting system was certainly
with the NSW Breakers. Our home Twenty20 matches have always overdue. Our thanks are conveyed to the SCG Trust for this work.
attracted excellent crowds and I am confident this will continue for
the summer ahead. Thank you for supporting cricket in NSW. I hope you enjoy the summer.
Of course, Twenty20 cricket will not be the only focus for the RTA
SpeedBlitz Blues. After finishing a disappointing last in both the
Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield and the Ford Ranger Cup, the players
will be looking for more consistency in all forms of the game.
This is also an exciting summer for the NSW Breakers who will David Gilbert
play at least 16 matches - double that of previous seasons. Their Chief Executive
schedule consists of 10 Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL)
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com 5
By David Townsend
Meet the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues’
Welcome
newest recruit – former Queenslander
and current Australian all-rounder
Shane Watson!
WATTO!
Watson relocated to Sydney during the off season and
Go Blues caught up with him at the end of the Ashes
How have you found the set up down here?
My experiences with Cricket NSW in the past have always been
very impressionable and now that I have moved here permanently,
Series to talk about the reasons for his move and his
the whole system has really impressed me in every way. I am really
ambitions for the upcoming summer.
looking forward to being around much more to hopefully be able to
What prompted the move down from Queensland? contribute to the success of the Blues in some way.
I have been trying to get as much balance in my life as possible. So as How would you sum up the recent Ashes tour?
Lee (Furlong), my girlfriend, is based in Sydney working for Fox Sports,
So close! But we just didn’t stop the momentum of the Poms quick
it is going to make things a lot easier by living in the same State.
enough in our first innings with the bat in either the Lord’s or Oval
Is Sydney a place that you have always thought about living in? Tests, and this unfortunately cost us the Ashes.
I have been traveling to Sydney consistently from the time I started Was the move to opener a tough adjustment?
playing domestic cricket and I have always loved it as a city. It has
Not really. I just stuck to the game that I have been continuing to
beautiful beaches, an amazing Harbour and it is the biggest city in
build over the last few years. It was an awesome challenge to face
Australia so there is always plenty of exciting things to do in your
the fresh English quicks with the new ball and I would love to
spare time.
continue to develop my opening skills in the future.
What was your impression of the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues from having
The series seemed tough but played in a good spirit - any amusing
played against them previously?
incidents on the field?
The Blues have always been very confident in their abilities as a team,
The Ashes series was played in a great spirit but it was extremely
so I always knew that the team I was in was going to have to play
competitive! One thing that Paul Collingwood said to me as I walked
extremely well to beat them.
6 Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
out to bat for the first time as an opener for Australia at Edgbaston How was it playing with Warnie? What special qualities does he
made me have a bit of a laugh. He said to me “Watto, this is not the bring to the team?
IPL now mate.” Thanks for the scoop Colly! I knew this was completely I have been extremely lucky to play a bit with Warnie over my career.
different to the IPL, having Freddie Flintoff charging in flat out trying To have him captain me at the Rajasthan Royals was an unbelievable
to hurt me with a bright red Duke ball! learning experience that has helped my cricket immensely. He is such
a brilliant tactician and is always challenging individuals to continue
You seemed to develop a good rivalry with Andrew Flintoff?
to strive to get the absolute best out of themselves.
I have complete respect for Freddie Flintoff, for the great guy he is
and for the things that he has been able to achieve as an all-rounder. During the first year of the IPL, he got the absolute best out of every
To be able to take him on with a new ball in his hand was such an single player that we had in our team. This is a very special talent
awesome challenge and something that I absolutely loved. It is now a that Warnie has and I am very lucky to have learnt from the
pity that I won’t be able to do it again in the Test arena. experiences and what he taught me about myself
Did the teams socialise much during the series and if so were any of Do you think Twenty20 has created a potential new career path for
the England players totally different off the field to on it? players?
We didn’t really socialise much at all during the series. It was Yes I do. It is a very lucrative version of cricket so this alone will mean
extremely competitive on the field during the summer, so it wasn’t that some young cricketers coming through will mainly shape their
until after the series finished that we had a couple of beers with them game towards Twenty20 cricket, but for me Test cricket is the ultimate
and had a chat. test of everything that you have as a cricketer and nothing will ever
take that away. So, it might just depend on exactly what you want to
You seemed to generate good pace at The Oval - is your bowling achieve as a cricketer.
close to being back to 100%?
My bowling is gradually getting back to 100%. As I really haven’t Who are you most looking forward to getting to know with the RTA
bowled much at all since coming back from stress fractures that I had SpeedBlitz Blues this year?
during last summer, it has been a gradual progression of feeling I am really looking forward to continuing to get to know Phil Hughes
comfortable with the slight modifications that I have made to my even more. He is a very special talent and an extremely nice young
bowling technique and also just getting into competitive bowling guy, so I look forward to spending a lot more time with him this year.
again. To be able to bowl a few overs during The Oval Test was
another step along the way to get back to my best. What are your memories of cricket at the SCG?
I made my Test debut at the SCG against Pakistan in 2004, so I have
You enjoyed a great IPL experience - how was it overall? got a lot of amazing memories of playing there. Getting my first Test
The IPL was one of the most amazing experiences of my life for a wicket at the SCG was very special and to win so convincingly was
number of different reasons. First of all, it was Twenty20 cricket on the so awesome to be a part of.
grand scale - from the crowds to the entertainment on and off the field.
To win the inaugural IPL was such a big accomplishment for our team. Hopefully I will have a few more SCG Test matches to come over the
next few years and a lot more amazing memories.
It was also a way of playing International standard cricket without
playing for Australia, which was exactly what I needed at that stage What do you like doing in your spare time?
of my career. Therefore, the IPL was a big stepping stone to me I love spending time at home playing with my two dogs, learning new
getting back into the Australian One-Day team and then back into songs to play on my guitar and going to the beach for a surf or swim.
the Test team as well.
What will you miss about Brisbane?
Mainly I will miss seeing my Mum, Dad and sister as regularly as I did.
PROFILE
Born: June 17, 1981
Club: Sutherland
Right-hand batsman
Right-arm fast-medium
Height: 183cm
Shane Watson
Weight: 93kg No. 17
First-class debut: (TAS) v QLD, 2000/01
Your Charity of Choice: I-India Australia
Who has had the biggest influence on your life: Mum and Dad
What are you scared of: Failure
Which sports teams do you support: Brisbane Lions,
Queensland Reds
What’s currently on your iPod: Keith Urban’s ‘Defying Gravity’
The happiest moment in your life: 2007 World Cup win
Which city in the world is your favourite and why: Sydney
for the beaches, harbour and because there’s plenty to do
Shane Watson and Lee Furlong.
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com 7
By Sudesh Arudpragasam
Alyssa Healy has one unusual claim to fame.
She once shared the front page of a major
newspaper with Osama Bin Laden.
If your aged
MAKING A between 8-14,
why not come along to
NAME
CricHit and
get involved!
If you’ve played before,
However to this day, she is yet to read the article “Healy’s niece hit
in sexist email row”, nor has she ever viewed the email in question.
ask your CricHit centre
very handy player
and another cousin
ket is Australia’s
The story revolved around her becoming the first female to about CricHit Twilight…
(with the surname
rite sport and
Boon) played underage
represent the First XI at Barker College, a once boys-only
private school on Sydney’s North Shore. One old boy saw
all forthe
tournaments fun of Cricket with
Queensland.
her selection as tokenism and feeling that she had taken
the place of a more deserving male, expressed his
NO BOYS!
However Alyssa was never
pushed into cricket, rather found her
concerns via email to the Old Boys network. own way to the game as a seven-year-
CricHit Skills is $45
old when a friend took her to a Have-A-
“I honestly couldn’t care,” Healy answered when Go clinic.
all the fun!!
asked of the controversy.
CricHit Twilight is $55
“After about two weeks my friend was off playing
“Everyone’s got their own opinion and I don’t in the sandpit while I was hitting balls of tees. I loved
mind. Barker is a very old school with traditions it!” remembered Healy, who is now the face of Cricket
a Healy
so I can understand why someone would have an NSW’s CricHit program, promoting young girls to
issue but I don’t care. I had fun doing it.” follow in her footsteps.
Check out
Those last five words sum up Alyssa Healy perfectly. While she
may be the niece of one of Australia’s finest ever wicketkeepers, to
Healy’s team mates she’s always going to the be the talkative teen
F o r m o in fo rm a ti o n o n
“Growing up I didn’t really understand what Uncle Ian was doing.
re
That didn’t happen until I got a bit older and started playing. I don’t
S W c o n tact
ro ss N
think his career had anything to do with me starting out in cricket.
a c
w.playcricket.com
whose quick with a one-liner and always laughing at something.
“The younger girls are usually quite shy and timid when they work
with the older players. But Alyssa and Ellyse Perry were quite the
C ri c H it
If I hadn’t gone to that Have-A-Go clinic I may never have played!”
Aimee Harris on (02) 83
02 6028 or
Healy’s competitive career began with the Carlingford Waratah
ricHit close to you!
Cricket Club in Sydney’s North West. She started out as a bowler
sw.com.au
aimee.harris@cricketn
opposite. When they were 10 or 11 they were the life of the but showed more aptitude for wicketkeeping. It could have been
party!” remembers Breakers captain Lisa Sthalekar, who has a coincidence – or possibly genetics at work!
known Healy from a young age.
Over the next few years she more than held her own with the boys
The Healy’s are a strong cricketing family. In addition to Uncle Ian, and those formative years in juniors played a major role in her
Uncle Ken also played for Queensland. Alyssa’s father Greg was a development.
8 Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
“I really enjoyed playing with the boys. After two seasons in the National U/21’s, “In cricket there are always things that are
Especially representative cricket for Northern Healy starts this summer as a first time going to make you a little angry and a little
District where I was playing with guys like member of the senior Australian squad. bit upset. But there’s always the next game.
Mitchell Starc, who is now in the NSW Of course I’ll be angry when I get out but
squad, and few of the other guys are playing There she replaces former club and State then you have your little moment and its
First and Second Grade too,” she said. team mate, Leonie Coleman, who had straight back to it. There’s the team you’ve
retired from international cricket at the end got to worry about – not just yourself.”
“I didn’t realise it back then, but it really of the World Cup and has since moved to
helped my cricket. Getting into U/15’s the ACT Meteors. For so long Coleman’s While bearing a famous cricketing surname
where you’re still playing on synthetic understudy, Healy will take her place will inevitably draw attention, it is important
wickets and the boys are getting taller and behind the stumps at NSW. to acknowledge that Alyssa Healy is
stronger – it makes you work a lot harder!” starting to make a name for herself,
“Leonie and I have been friends ever since whether it is playing with the boys or
Around the time she reached U/14’s, Healy I started coming through the grades at excelling with the Breakers. But for the end
also began playing women’s cricket, joining Balmain. It wasn’t the way that I wanted to of her career, her wish is simple.
the Balmain Cricket Club (now Sydney CC) take the gloves but these things happen and
as a wicketkeeper in the lower grades. I wish her all the best at the ACT. I am a “I always thought I’d like to be remembered
While working her way up the Grades little nervous about the season, but it’s one as someone with a long career. But I don’t
there, she also continued to test herself of the challenges that you come across, care if I am not the leading run scorer or
against the men, leading to a character and I am really looking forward to having have the most stumpings – I just want to be
building stint in the Barker First XI. a keep!” she admitted. remembered as someone who enjoyed it.”
“Playing for Barker definitely helped me. One of Healy’s best assets is her ability to It is an honest and true reflection on the
Playing two day cricket was a new maintain perspective. Whatever the results way she plays the game, but Healy can’t
experience and having guys bowling on the field, her behavior off it rarely help herself and with a cheeky grin quickly
consistently outside off-stump and on a changes from the vivacious, cheeky delivers the punch line:
length made me work extremely hard,” teenager eager for a chat or joke amongst
she revealed. her family and friends. “But none of that matters as I’ll always
be Ian Healy’s niece!”
“When I first started playing with the boys “I am incredibly laid back for anyone who
my shots weren’t as good as I wanted them knows me. Nothing really bothers me – there
to be. But that changed the more I played. are bigger things in life and silly things
It got my driving going and I became more shouldn’t really bother you,” she argued.
confident on the back foot because
everyone was trying to bounce me!”
Technically her game was on the rise, but
it also made her tougher mentally.
“I remember playing Knox Grammar and
being bounced by Rob Edwards, who is
now in the State underage system. I got hit
but I learned to come back from that. It’s
something that you wouldn’t experience in
the women’s game. You see Aussie guys
getting hit all the time and they just keep
going. It taught me to do that.”
At 19-years-old, Healy is part of the long
term plans of the NSW Breakers. The start
of her State career was less than auspicious,
despite a match winning 41 not out against
Queensland, but in recent times there have
been more and more signs that she is
finding her feet.
“She was thrown in the deep end at the start
of her WNCL career,” admits Sthalekar.
“But while she didn’t contribute a lot on the
field in her first season, she did off it and her
presence really lifted the group. Last summer
she started to develop more as a cricketer
and there were innings where she helped
pull us through. I am really looking forward
to seeing what she can do this year.”
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com 9
By Sudesh Arudpragasam
The STATE OF
THE GAME It’s an exciting time in the cricket
world. Twenty20 is taking the game
by storm and the face of the sport is
definitely changing. Go Blues took this
opportunity to catch up with Cricket
NSW Chief Executive, David Gilbert,
to get his thoughts on some of the
issues currently facing cricket.
What has been the major challenge for Are you happy with the progress that has Twenty20 has brought a lot of focus on the
cricket in the last 10 years? been made in the area of participation? relevance of 50 over cricket. But I believe
there’s a balance to be achieved.
Kids today have so much choice in terms of When I joined Cricket NSW in 2001, our
what they do with their leisure time, whether participants stood at about 100,000. We’re The 50 over format certainly needs a ‘shot
it’s the internet, video games or something now at about 175,000. I’m very proud of in the arm’. We probably need to look at
else. It’s just been a huge challenge for us to that and it’s been a massive team effort refreshing it and making it more interactive
get them playing cricket. state-wide. The fact that we’ve had a 75% with the general public. I don’t believe the
increase in participants over the last eight public relate to the Power Plays so that
Thirty or forty years ago when I was years is fantastic but the other sports are just could be looked at. I’d also look back to
growing up you came home from school as focused on achieving the same results. when we played the ING Cup and there
and went straight to the street, or into the was a lot of crowd interaction when players
backyard, and you played with your Is State cricket in better condition now than hit signs and won cash. It’s a simple
brother or neighbours. You couldn’t wait for it has been in the past? promotion but the crowd loved it!
the weekend to come to play cricket. It’s not
the case now. Kids have so many distractions. In terms of coverage, Fox Sports’ The bottom line is the 50 over game offers the
involvement in domestic cricket has been broadcaster 7-8 hours of television. And that’s
I think Twenty20 has been a big help in outstanding. We are not getting as many why there is a fight on to retain it because if
making the game more appealing to the weekend matches or games at suburban you get rid of it, then that’s hours that the
younger brigade, and also to parents. grounds, however Fox Sports are paying a broadcaster has to find somewhere else.
I’ve stood on the sidelines watching my lot of money for the rights and that goes
daughters at Saturday morning sport and back into the grass roots of the game. So But now’s not the time to panic. My
heard the complaints about the amount of it’s a win-win for everyone. understanding is that there are already very
time a cricket match takes up. significant commercial arrangements in
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed place for the 2011 and 2015 World Cups
We can do one of two things. We can bury that we don’t see more of our international and cricket must not jeopardise those
our heads in the sand and pretend it will all players in State cricket. However that’s the income streams.
go away, or we can do something about it. way the international programming is but it
is a regrettable situation. When young What were your first thoughts when you
And I think in recent times we’ve done that, players come in they don’t get to play were presented with the concept for the
in terms of the time a match takes and also against the best players straight up. To my Champions League Twenty20?
how involved all the players are. Everyone way of thinking that makes the jump up to
gets a go and some poor kid doesn’t get Test cricket much harder. From an Australian cricket point of view it
stood at long stop behind the wicketkeeper was vital. State teams were seeing a lot of
never touching the ball. England has moved away from the 50 over our expertise – players, coaches and
format. Do you see a similar trend for support staff – exported to the IPL and while
The bottom line is we are here to develop Australian cricket? those individuals were doing very well out
and promote cricket in NSW and getting of it, nothing financially was coming back
kids playing the game is a huge part of that. It’s the huge talking point at the moment but to Australian cricket.
I don’t think that we can afford to jump to
hasty conclusions. There’s no doubt that
10 Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.comThat was becoming a real concern for the are now five or six players who have moved
administrators because we were producing on and yet the team still dominates. We’ve
these resources but in terms of money always been able to maintain a level of
coming back to Australian cricket, we consistency in NSW and that’s because the
weren’t seeing any. girls have always felt supported and that
we’re in this for the long haul.
Cricket Australia has 30% equity in the
Champions League so we are now going to The women who ran the game prior to
see revenue coming back to Australian integration deserve huge credit for what
cricket by virtue of the competition coming they did. They established a very strong
into being. To me that is the biggest plus. structure with very little resources. When
integration happened the women’s game
But also it’s huge that the NSW team gets was in a very healthy state. I’d like to think The No.1 Oval and Grandstand at Blacktown
to show its wares on the world stage. it’s now even healthier but it’s very important Olympic Park.
We’ve never had that opportunity before! to acknowledge the role of the people who
We’ve always been very proud of the fact were running women’s cricket at the time, What’s been built at Blacktown Olympic
that statistically we’re the greatest domestic like Wendy Weir, Ann Mitchell, Chris Park will go down as one of the most
cricket team in the world so here’s a chance Brierley and Rina Hore. They were fantastic visionary projects that Cricket NSW has
to prove it. stalwarts for women’s cricket in NSW. ever been involved in. 30 or 40 years in
the future people are going to say “Those
Do you see the concept of freelance players Do you see women’s cricket having guys got it right. They identified a growing
growing? commercial value in the future? area of Sydney and set up outstanding
I think it’s inevitable. We’ve recently seen playing and training facilities for the
That’s where I see Twenty20 as the biggest
Andrew Symonds and Andrew Flintoff generation of cricketers that we’re now
opportunity for the women’s game. And at
make that decision. However I don’t think a responsible for”.
the end of the day the general public, when
player is going to be able to do that until they turn on their television, want to be I make no apology for Cricket NSW’s
he’s established himself as a profile player, entertained. And if they see a skill level decision to decentralise its programs
which Symonds and Flintoff obviously are. they appreciate and they’re being because we have to. We are the NSW
It would be a very dangerous and career entertained, they’ll watch it. The Women’s Cricket Association. Our job is to develop
threatening move by a youngster to take World Cup opened a lot of eyes to the skill and promote the game in NSW.
their chances and back their ability to make levels the girls’ possess.
it in the 20 over game. The next focus is to get country facilities up to
The fact that Cricket Australia has scratch. We have to get facilities in areas like
Someone like David Warner, who is introduced a women’s Twenty20 Tamworth, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Albury,
comparatively new to First Class cricket, would competition, and there are a lot of games Lismore that are not only going to be able to
be the first to admit that it would be crazy for before the men’s matches this year, is only stage elite level cricket matches, but also
him to become a freelancer. He’s still learning going to help. I think it’s inevitable that the provide facilities for youngsters to be the best
his trade and the best place for him to do that women’s Twenty20 internationals played that they can be. We need to work closely
is in the Australian cricket environment. But before the men’s Twenty20 internationals with State and local government on this.
down the line, when he establishes himself and are going to be broadcast in full rather than
becomes a prominent name, it’s going to be just highlights. Do you see international cricket moving
very tempting for him. away from the SCG?
That’s a huge positive for the women’s
In your time as Chief Executive you’ve game. You like to think this will generate The SCG has staged Test matches in NSW
overseen the integration of women’s cricket sponsorship and, from that, a better deal since 1882. It’s got a very proud and rich
into Cricket NSW. Has that been one of the for women cricketers because at the tradition. At the same time, the ground, like
major success stories? moment they are playing for the love and any other, must pay its way. For it to retain
the honour. They deserve more. such a high profile sport, and one so
I am immensely proud of that. We
appealing, it comes at a cost.
integrated in 2003 so we’re now six years In the last 10 years Cricket NSW has
on. I remember that at the time there was a appeared to decentralise many of its In my role as Chief Executive, an on-going
lot of concern from the then NSW Women’s programs. What are the reasons behind this? difficulty has been getting people to
Cricket Association that this was just the recognise and understand that the SCG
men taking over the women’s game with no We had to. The SCG is an outstanding Trust run a ground and we run a sport.
long term plan or conviction to see the complex for cricket but it’s in the Eastern Cricket NSW does not run the SCG and
women’s game prosper. I’d like to think that Suburbs of Sydney and if you’re living in the SCG Trust does not run cricket.
six years on we’ve certainly shown that this Penrith, Campbelltown, Blacktown,
is not the case. Kellyville or Hornsby, it is a long haul. If both organisations respect each others’
position and future negotiations are
The money that’s been invested by Cricket I think by decentralising some of our conducted in the appropriate manner, then
NSW into the women’s game is by far the programs, whether its Emerging Blues and everyone wins.
best of any State in Australia. We’ve got a Breakers, Ford Ranger Cup, WNCL or
fantastic Breakers team that dominates. If Twenty20 Big Bash matches, it keeps our
you look at the team three years ago there product contemporary with the population.
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IN THE PRESENCE
OF KINGS
One year after securing his first RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Contract,
Newcastle fast bowler Burt Cockley was a surprise signing with
the Kings XI Punjab for the second season of the lucrative
Indian Premier League.
One of the rising stars in the NSW fast bowling ranks, Cockley being in the same team as him! Being able to train, bowl together
spoke to Go Blues about furthering his cricketing education with the and get tips from him was brilliant and we got on well.
Kings XI and some of the leading players in the world.
How was it to meet and mix with some of the best players in the world?
How did your signing for the Kings XI Punjab come about?
It was amazing! Growing up in Newcastle I never imagined that
I actually didn’t put my name forward at the auction but a close I would rub shoulders with most of those guys so to be able to
friend of mine, Bill Anderson (former NSW cricket coach), rang me speak to them and watch them go about their cricket was amazing,
with a message from Neil Maxwell (former NSW cricketer and and I learnt a great deal.
now cricket agent) that I had received a contract.
Was there one player in particular that you got to chat to that was a
What were your expectations going into the IPL? highlight?
To be totally honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect! After watching Glenn McGrath! Being from the country and idolising him, it was
it on television last year it seemed like a great tournament and a massive highlight to meet him and spend some time chatting. He
something I really wanted to be part of, so I kept my mind open didn’t let me down and I have a great deal of respect for him.
to learning as much as I could and trying to take in every aspect
of the experience How did you find South Africa?
Was it disappointing not to play? I found it a little different to Australia but loved it anyway! It is a
beautiful country and I was lucky enough to go out on a couple
Yes it was to be honest. But the fact that it was my first year meant
of safaris, play with baby lions and pat a cheetah which was a bit
that I just chose to look at it as a fantastic learning experience.
intense as they seemed ready to snap at any moment! I also got to
I also thought that whatever happened it was going to offer a big
visit Table Mountain which was an experience in itself and offered
opportunity to improve my cricket just by being around guys who
some great views of the beaches and city.
knew the game. Hopefully, next year I can use that knowledge
if I get selected to play. How do you think your game has developed in the past two years?
Who did you learn the most from? I think that I have improved my game a fair bit from when I was
playing in Newcastle two years ago. I have learned so much more
Definitely Brett Lee - he helped me in a range of different areas.
about myself and what I am capable of with every game. I just
Because I looked up to him growing up, it felt weird at first just
back my ability more now and try not to over-complicate things.
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Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com 13thE BuilDiNG oF thE iNtErNAtioNAl CriCKEt hAll oF FAmE
At BowrAl iS oNE oF thE moSt imPortANt EVENtS iN
worlD CriCKEt SiNCE thE Birth oF DoN BrADmAN.
help make this internationally-important Gallery
truly worthy of Sir Don and truly worthy of Australia.
Buy a brick and become a benefactor.
When Bradman Museum was opened by Sir Donald of Fame.Your contribution will be permanently
Bradman in 1989, he said: “In my eyes the Bradman complex acknowledged by a brick engraved with your name
has been created to honour and strengthen the game of embedded into the building foundations, and by being
cricket and my name is merely a catalyst to give it birth and included on an honour board in the foyer of The
life.” The Museum is now 20-years-old and, like the game of International Cricket Hall of Fame.
cricket itself, is evolving to keep pace with a new genera-
Simply fill in the coupon below and return with your
tion of world-wide cricket fans. The world’s one and only
payment details, or for further information call Rina Hore
International Cricket Hall of Fame will attract thousands of
on 02 4861 6011. To keep up with this historic project go
visitors and celebrate the history and development of cricket
to www.bradman.com.au
worldwide. But your help is needed to make it outstanding.
Construction of the building is about to commence and
you can be part of history by donating $1000 as a fully
tax-deductible donation to The International Cricket Hall
Yes, i would like to be a Foundation Benefactor and purchase brick/s.
Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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We are sincerely grateful for your assistance. On receipt of your donation you will be
contacted in regard to the wording you would like on the acknowledgement.
BrADmAN FouNDAtioN, Po Box 9994, BowrAl, NSw. AuStrAliA. 2576
PhoNE: 02 48621247 wEB: www.BrADmAN.Com.AuSPECIAL LIFTOUT India, 8-23 October 2009
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TWENTY20 SQUAD
Matthew Mott Simon Katich (c) Aaron Bird Doug Bollinger Nathan Bracken Stuart Clark
Coach No. 37 No. 3 No. 4 No. 59 No. 10
David Freedman Nathan Hauritz Moises Henriques Phillip Hughes Brett Lee Stephen O’Keefe
No. 43 No. 21 No. 22 No. 58 No. 72
Assistant Coach
Ben Rohrer Daniel Smith Steven Smith Dominic Thornely David Warner
No. 99 No. 13 No. 19 No. 27 No. 31
SCHEDULE GROUP STAGE LEAGUE STAGE SEMI FINAL FINAL
GROUP B DRAW LEAGUE POINTS TABLE
DATE VENUE TEAMS TIME The result of the Group Stage matches between the teams that qualify
9 October Delhi NSW Blues vs Diamond Eagles 16:00 for the League Stage will be carried through to the League Points Table.
DATE VENUE LEAGUE TEAMS TIME
11 October Delhi NSW Blues vs Sussex Sharks 16:00
Thu, Oct 15 Bangalore B C1 v D2 20:00
13 October Delhi Sussex Sharks vs Diamond Eagles 20:00
All times are Indian Standard Time (4 1/2 hours behind AEDST) Fri Oct 16 Hyderabad A A2 v B2 16:00
GROUP STAGE
A1 v B1 20:00
Sat Oct 17 Bangalore B C2 v D2 16:00
GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D C1 v D1 20:00
A1 B1 C1 D1
Deccan Chargers NSW Blues Royal Challengers Delhi Daredevils Sun Oct 18 Hyderabad A A2 v B1 16:00
(India) (Australia) Bangalore (India) (India)
A1 v B2 20:00
A2 B2 C2 D2
Somerset Sabres Diamond Eagles Cape Cobras Victorian Bushrangers Mon Oct 19 Delhi B C2 v D1 20:00
(England) (South Africa) (South Africa) (Australia)
A3 B3 C3 D3
Trinidad & Tobago
(West Indies)
Sussex Sharks
(England)
Otago Volts
(New Zealand)
Wayamba
(Sri Lanka)
SEMI FINALS
The top two teams from each League will qualify for the Semi Finals.
DATE VENUE MATCH TEAMS TIME
LEAGUE STAGE Wed Oct 21 Delhi Semi Final 1 Winner League B Vs
Runner-Up League A
20:00
There will be two leagues comprising four teams each.
Each team will have to play the teams in its League Group Thu Oct 22 Hyderabad Semi Final 2 Winner League A Vs 20:00
Runner-Up League B
that it did not play during the Group Stage.
LEAGUE A
A1
LEAGUE B
C1
FINALS
The winner of each Semi Final will qualify for the Grand Final.
A2 C2
DATE VENUE MATCH TEAMS TIME
B1 D1
Fri Oct 23 Hyderabad GRAND FINAL Winner Semi Final 1 Vs 20:00
B2 D2 Winner Semi Final 2
2 Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.comBy Sudesh Arudpragasam
CONQUERING
INDIA
Whether it’s the scorching heat or energy sapping humidity, or the hectic streets filled with a cacophony of sounds.
Or the claustrophobic feeling of being surrounded by a mass of people - there is no escaping the assault on the senses
that only India can provide.
One of the most exotic locations in the cricketing streets, in slums. Then you’ve got the heat and humidity. You have
world, India has been a graveyard for many to be careful what you eat and drink,” Campbell warns.
international teams and the downfall of players who “The exposure to that culture and environment is a necessary part
have failed to embrace the country or its conditions. of a cricketer’s education. Any young person wanting to be a
professional cricket has to realise that there is going to be a lot of
While hockey is listed by Wikipedia as the country’s National sport, cricket played in India, whether they are playing for Australia, their
cricket is clearly its passion with fans packing out every vantage State or the IPL. They have to be able to overcome those hurdles.”
point at stadiums for big matches – even if it puts their life at risk!
NSW young guns Steve Smith and Moises Henriques have just
India’s prominence in the cricket world is growing and never has it returned home from India with an Australian Institute of Sport team.
been more important to expose young cricketers to this foreign It was a useful preparation for the Champions League where
land. It’s a view that has been held by Cricket NSW High Henriques hit 113 not out in a one-day match while Smith smashed
Performance Manager, Alan Campbell, for many years with the 219 and took 6-31in a three-day fixture.
first NSW Colts tour to India taking place in 2005.
“It is quite different over there so the recent tour was useful in terms
“That Colts team from 2005 included several players who will play of getting used to local conditions. The heat and humidity was a
in the Champions League. Ben Rohrer, Daniel Smith, Moises major factor so experiencing it first hand was a positive,” said Smith.
Henriques - they’ve all been to India. To me that tour was a terrific
investment on the part of NSW cricket,” said Campbell. India is a country famous for its spinners so Smith spent months at the
Centre of Excellence honing his technique against the slow bowlers.
The NSW team also undertook a pre-season tour in Bangalore
before the start of the 2005/06 season, and in 2008 Cricket “They bowled a lot of spin but I found it much easier to play having
NSW sent its U/19 male and female teams. Again it was a worked on it for such a long time,” he admitted.
valuable learning experience in vastly different conditions that can’t
always be replicated at home. In addition to facing the conditions, international cricket will also
have to face the growing level of talent produced by India’s cricket
“The wickets we played on in India varied quite a bit. There were fields. The sport is now being seen as a legitimate source of
dusty low turning wickets, bouncy turning wickets. Then we had income and anecdotal evidence suggests parents are less likely to
some fast bouncy wickets. The ball was also a lot harder and it push children away from cricket in favour of a university degree, as
wears a lot quicker,” explained Campbell. was once the case.
“We prepare kids to play in all conditions. But to replicate the The Australian Institute of Sport believes that 10% of the population
conditions of the sub-continent is very difficult!” he added. aged between 10 and 19 can be considered talented in one sport
or another. Based on figures from the 2007 US Census Bureau,
While adapting to pitches and bowlers in India was an important Australia has a talent pool of approximately 280,000 people to fill
focus, there was equal focus on helping players to handle the side its National teams. Based on the same estimates, India’s talent pool
of India that you don’t see in a stadium. stands at 22.5 million.
“The off-field side of things can be very confronting. You’ve got It’s just another factor that adds to the challenge of conquering India.
poverty, hunger, homelessness. You’ve got people living on the
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com 3BROADCASTING By David Townsend
CRICKETTO THE FANS
The upcoming Airtel Champions League Twenty20 is going to be dramatic.
Think Champions League soccer in overall reach, the figures are staggering billion into the game in the last three years
Europe with Manchester United, Real and have enormous implications to the alone. With this they have tried to use the
coverage of this particular tournament. game to drive innovation into sports
Madrid, Barcelona and others, then
broadcasting.
substitute the best cricketers in the Over 310 million people watch ESS channels
world playing for domestic franchises every day across more than 140 million World class production and a best of the
for the first time in the exciting format homes in Asia. Programs are broadcast in six world commentary team have been their
languages producing over 1800 hours of hallmarks, along with new camera angles,
of Twenty20.
original programming each year. greater communication with players and
The whole concept will pit the best two-way communication with umpires that
As well as the Airtel Champions League allows the viewer to witness decisions
Twenty20 players on the planet in a new
Twenty20, ESS hold the rights to a range of being explained.
environment. Some, like Victorian Dirk
major sporting events including the Summer
Nannes, will represent teams against their
and Winter Olympics, English Premier The Airtel Champions League Twenty20 will
own domestic side while many others will
League, Wimbledon, The Masters Golf, be covered by 30 cameras per match,
play for teams representing other countries.
NBA and Formula One. including a roving ‘fly’ camera in the air,
Coming after the excitement generated by reversible slips camera and reversible stump
ESS has realised the success of International camera. Innovative graphics on top of ‘Hawk-
the IPL, the tournament promises to take
club events in other sports. In addition to Eye’ will allow the viewer to see speed off the
everything up another notch. No spectator
the UEFA Champions League, the Heineken bat statistics, boundary dimensions as well as
could have been anything but blown away
Cup has been an enormous success in the popular six-hitting distances which
by the Final of the KFC Big Bash last year
Europe. Pitting the best rugby union clubs showed how far each ‘maximum’ travelled. It
when NSW beat Victoria on the last ball.
and provinces against each other in a will allow them to keep a track of the biggest
Having been at the game, it was difficult not group-stage format followed by Quarter six hitters in the competition, an honour that
to notice the noise and atmosphere Finals, Semi Finals and a Final has seen went to West Indian Chris Gayle at the recent
generated by 17,000 fans at ANZ Stadium. these matches produce tremendous crowds. Twenty20 World Cup.
It was one of the few times that people have The chance to see English vs French clubs
been on their feet chanting ‘NSW’ at any and Scottish vs Irish has allowed national On-ground player interviews, half-time
domestic cricket match. Cricket has been passions to be re-ignited. This exciting new captain’s opinions and unprecedented
taken to a whole new audience. dimension for emotional fans has created a player access will also form the backbone of
new arena in which the best can play the coverage of a tournament that ESS hope will
The Airtel Champions League Twenty20 best as well as a platform to allow new stars offer international cricket fans a new context
host broadcasters ESPN Star Sports (ESS) to emerge on a world stage. in which the ‘best play the best’ in club
feel exactly the same. ESS is a joint venture colours, and ultimately an annual showpiece
between ESPN (Walt Disney) and Star TV ESS have realised the potential of cricket event for cricket lovers around the world.
(News Corporation). Having launched in being the world’s second biggest sport in
1996 they deliver 24 hours of sport every terms of global following. Having been the Every match of the 2009 Champions
day, operating across 17 channels in 24 first broadcaster to take ‘live’ cricket into League Twenty20 will be shown live on
countries throughout Asia. In terms of mainland Europe with the ICC World One HD. To find out more about broadcast
Twenty20 Tournament in England earlier times visit www.onehd.com.au.
this year, ESS have invested over US $2.3
4 Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.comAN EYE FOR DETAIL By Sudesh Arudpragasam
It’s a job, but one that I enjoy a lot!
Andrew Ware’s workstation. ..
Andrew Ware’s job is to watch cricket. Once Ware has the footage, he cuts it up into packages for each
opposition player with clips including their strengths, weakness
On the surface it sounds like an easy gig, but heading and how they are getting out. These are then given to the NSW
into the Airtel Champions League Twenty20, NSW squad to watch and study on DVD’s, or even on their iPods.
Performance Analyst has a crucial role in preparing “I think in Twenty20 cricket if you know what a player’s favourite
the side for battle. shots are, and the areas he likes to hit the ball, it goes a long way
to helping to restrict runs and hopefully finding a way to get him
Ware joined the NSW support staff in 2006 after working with
out as well,” explained Ware.
the Queensland Bulls. Since then he has watched close to every
ball of every NSW match, meticulously logging minute details And he doesn’t just use video to compile his dossiers. Player input
on his SportsCode analysis program that will help identify the is also important to his job.
strengths and weaknesses of the opposition, as well as areas his
own players could improve. “I am using the players’ knowledge for this tournament as much
as anyone else!” Ware admits.
At the Champions League the Blues will be facing many of the
teams, and players, for the first time. And captain Simon Katich “We were lucky to have guys playing for the Centre of Excellence
believes the pre-tournament analysis of oppositions side will be vital. in the Emerging Players tournament. They have come up against
some of the South African players.”
“We’ll spend a fair bit of time on analysis because there are a few
teams that we haven’t played before. There will be players that Once the tournament starts, Ware’s workload increases. With the
we know, but not complete teams. That’s going to be important assistance of fellow Cricket NSW Performance Analyst, Troy Baker,
because it’s a cut-throat event. We need to get two wins under our he will prepare a dossier on every team in the competition should
belt to qualify for the quarter finals. Our homework will be done the Blues meet them at the later stages of the tournament.
in depth,” assured Katich.
“I am going to be logging games in India and Troy Baker is going to
Ware’s job is to gather as much footage as he can on the be doing the same in Sydney. He’ll then upload the files to me.
opposition, starting with their Pool B opponents, the Sussex Between the two of us we are going to make sure we have as much
Sharks and Diamond Eagles. information on as many players as we can,” Ware explained.
“We’ve been lucky that Sussex have been drawn in our pool. Given the amount of time he spends studying the game, Ware has
I spent a good part of last year on a work exchange with their learned to be very good cricket watcher.
team so I have a good knowledge of their players. They’ve also
“You certainly have to like the game and try to take out as much
been kind enough to put all of their match highlights on their
of it as you can when you are watching. I find that I can’t watch
website for everyone to look at!” said Ware.
cricket socially now as I am always looking for things that I would
“The Diamond Eagles are a little bit tougher because we haven’t be looking at if I was at work. It is a job, but one that I enjoy a lot!”
seen some of their players before. And getting video footage is
a lot more of a drama! I’ve been hounding the people I have met
over the last couple of years in South African cricket circles – but
it’s been difficult!”
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com 5By Sudesh Arudpragasam
“It’s a nice situation to be in,”
admits NSW captain, Simon Katich.
THE
CHALLENGERS
The Airtel Champions League Twenty20 brings
a new perspective to international cricket. A country’s pride
will rest not with a National side, but instead the provincial
teams who earned the right to represent it.
NSW will field an international strength line-up, the first time
they have been able to do this since the 2007/08 Pura Cup
Final.
“It’s a nice situation to be in,” admits captain, Simon Katich.
While the likes of Katich, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken, Nathan Hauritz
and Brett Lee can be considered the ‘big guns’ of the team, the skipper
warns not to discount the contribution of the younger members of the
squad.
“All of the guys who played last year will be putting their hand up for
selection because they’re the ones who got us to this tournament,” said
Katich.
“Aaron Bird was sensational. Phillip Hughes played a crucial role, so did
Stephen O’Keefe and David Warner. The list goes on! We had a young
team and I am sure that they’ll all get opportunities. There are going to be
four guys sitting out but we’ve got to make sure we are picking the right
squad for the right conditions.”
6 Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.comYou can also read
