to the October 2009 edition of Go Blues.

Transcription

to the October 2009 edition of Go Blues.
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
Note: Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield Final to be broadcast on FOX SPORTS
FORD RANGER CUP
WOMEN’S NATIONAL CRICKET LEAGUE
Home
Away
Venue
Date
NSW Breakers
Queensland
North Sydney Oval
Sat, 7 Nov 2009
NSW Breakers
Queensland
North Sydney Oval
Sun, 8 Nov 2009
ACT
NSW Breakers
Manuka Oval
Sat, 21 Nov 2009
ACT
NSW Breakers
Manuka Oval
Sun, 22 Nov 2009
NSW Breakers
Victoria
Manly Oval
Sat, 12 Dec 2009
Home
Away
Venue
Date
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues
Western Australia
North Sydney Oval
* Sun, 1 Nov 2009
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues
Tasmania
North Sydney Oval
* Sun, 15 Nov 2009
Western Australia
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues
WACA Ground D/N
* Wed, 25 Nov 2009
Tasmania
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues
NTCA Ground,
Launceston
Sat, 5 Dec 2009
NSW Breakers
Victoria
Manly Oval
Sun, 13 Dec 2009
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
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues
South Australia
North Dalton Park,
Wollongong
Tue, 26 Jan 2010
NSW Breakers
South Australia
Bankstown Oval
Fri, 15 Jan 2010
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues
Queensland
SCG D/N
* Wed, 3 Feb 2010
NSW Breakers
South Australia
Bankstown Oval
Sat, 16 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
FINAL
*Sun, 28 Feb 2010
FINAL
Sat, 30 Jan 2010
WOMEN’S DOMESTIC TWENTY20
Home
Away
Venue
Date
NSW Breakers
Queensland
North Sydney Oval
Fri, 6 Nov 2009
ACT
NSW Breakers
Manuka Oval
Fri, 20 Nov 2009
NSW Breakers
Victoria
Manly Oval
Fri, 11 Dec 2009
Tasmania
NSW Breakers
Bellerive Oval
* Wed, 30 Dec 2009
Western Australia
NSW Breakers
WACA
* Sun, 10 Jan 2010
NSW Breakers
South Australia
ANZ Stadium,
Sydney Olympic Park
* Sun, 17 Jan 2010
Note: * Denotes matches to be broadcast on FOX SPORTS
KFC TWENTY20 BIG BASH
Home
Away
Venue
Date
Tasmania
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues
Bellerive Oval
Wed, 30 Dec 2009
Victoria
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues
MCG
Sat, 2 Jan 2010
Western Australia
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues
WACA Ground
Tue, 5 Jan 2010
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues
Queensland
ANZ Stadium,
Sydney Olympic Park
Wed, 13 Jan 2010
RTA SpeedBlitz Blues
South Australia
ANZ Stadium,
Sydney Olympic Park
Sun, 17 Jan 2010
FINAL
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
** Sat, 23 Jan 2010
Note: * Double-header matches with KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. ** Final to be broadcast on FOX SPORTS
Issue 17 / October 2009
Contents
Go Blues, published by:
5 FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
6 WELCOME WATTO!
Meet RTA SpeedBlitz Blues’ newest recruit - Australian all-rounder
Shane W
atson.
GRAPHICS
8 MAKING A NAME
Alyssa Healy bears a famous surname but is starting to make her
own mark on cricket.
Level Two 645 Harris Street
Ultimo Sydney Australia 2007
Tel: + 612 9211 0775
Fax: + 612 9211 0780
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.
Cricket NSW
PO Box 333 Paddington NSW 2021
Ph: + 61 2 8302 6000
www.cricketnsw.com
Editor: Sudesh Arudpragasam
Contributors: David Townsend, David Gilbert
Photos: Delly Carr, Getty Images
17 RTA SPEEDBLITZ BLUES SQUAD
Who’s made the squad for the 2009/10 summer?
21 NSW BREAKERS SQUAD
Meet the players challenging for a fifth consecutive WNCL title
this summer!
23 DOUBLE THE ACTION
This is another massive summer for women’s cricket with new
teams and a new competition.
issue 17 / October 2009
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPECIAL LIFTOUT
The inaugural Airtel Champions League Twenty20 is about to
get underway in India. Check out this special liftout for special
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
in NSW with the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues currently in India competing
in the inaugural Champions League Twenty20.
The tournament features the 12 leading domestic Twenty20 teams
from around the world - representing Australia, South Africa, India,
England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies. The teams
will compete in front of frenzied Indian crowds, and a massive
global television audience, for a first prize of $US 2.5M.
NSW will field a virtual international strength line up with Simon
Katich, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Nathan Hauritz and Nathan
Bracken joining forces with rising stars Phillip Hughes, Aaron Bird,
David Warner, Doug Bollinger and Moises Henriques, who helped
win last summer’s KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.
Back home, there is just as much to look forward to. The RTA
SpeedBlitz Blues face the challenge of defending their KFC Twenty20
Big Bash title with this summer’s competition set to be even more
explosive. A number of international players will be heading ‘down
under’ for this season’s ‘Big Bash’ including West Indians Chris
Gayle (Western Australia) and Dwayne Bravo (Victoria), and Sri
Lankans Muttiah Muralitharan (Victoria), Lasith Malinga (Tasmania)
and Ajantha Mendis (South Australia). Cricket NSW has formally
approached the Sri Lankan captain, Kumar Sangakkara, conditional
on him being available for all ‘Big Bash’ matches.
The RTA SpeedBlitz Blues will play two ‘Big Bash’ matches this
summer at ANZ Stadium, against Queensland on January 13, and
South Australia on January 17, which will also be a double header
with the NSW Breakers. Our home Twenty20 matches have always
attracted excellent crowds and I am confident this will continue for
the summer ahead.
games and six Twenty20 matches, as part of a new domestic
women’s competition. The Breakers are aiming for a fifth
consecutive WNCL title this summer, and 12th overall, as well as
the chance to become the inaugural women’s Twenty20 champions
and play the Final live on Fox Sports!
On the international scene, we welcome the West Indies and
World Twenty20 Champions, Pakistan. The Sydney Cricket Ground
will host the New Year’s 3 mobile Second Test Match against
Pakistan, as well as One-Day Internationals against both sides, and
a Twenty20 International against the West Indies.
For Australia, these matches will go a long way to regaining their
mantle as the number one Test and ODI team in the world and
I urge all fans to support Ricky Ponting and his team by attending
these matches.
In August, Cricket NSW’s new western Sydney base at Blacktown
Olympic Park was officially opened. Featuring a five lane indoor
practice facility, 22 turf and synthetic outdoor practice nets, a
floodlit First Class standard No.1 oval and a First Grade standard
No.2 oval, this state-of-the-art facility is the most significant cricket
development in Australia since Allan Border Field in Brisbane was
opened 15 years ago. An inspection of this outstanding facility is
highly recommended!
We have also recently upgraded the lighting at the Power
Education Indoor Cricket Centre at the SCG. The Indoor Centre has
serviced the needs of cricketers of all levels since its opening in
1997 however the much improved lighting system was certainly
overdue. Our thanks are conveyed to the SCG Trust for this work.
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
play at least 16 matches - double that of previous seasons. Their
schedule consists of 10 Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL)
David Gilbert
Chief Executive
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
5
By David Townsend
Welcome
Meet the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues’
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
Series to talk about the reasons for his move and his
ambitions for the upcoming summer.
What prompted the move down from Queensland?
I have been trying to get as much balance in my life as possible. So as
Lee (Furlong), my girlfriend, is based in Sydney working for Fox Sports,
it is going to make things a lot easier by living in the same State.
Is Sydney a place that you have always thought about living in?
I have been traveling to Sydney consistently from the time I started
playing domestic cricket and I have always loved it as a city. It has
beautiful beaches, an amazing Harbour and it is the biggest city in
Australia so there is always plenty of exciting things to do in your
spare time.
What was your impression of the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues from having
played against them previously?
The Blues have always been very confident in their abilities as a team,
so I always knew that the team I was in was going to have to play
extremely well to beat them.
6
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
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,
the whole system has really impressed me in every way. I am really
looking forward to being around much more to hopefully be able to
contribute to the success of the Blues in some way.
How would you sum up the recent Ashes tour?
So close! But we just didn’t stop the momentum of the Poms quick
enough in our first innings with the bat in either the Lord’s or Oval
Tests, and this unfortunately cost us the Ashes.
Was the move to opener a tough adjustment?
Not really. I just stuck to the game that I have been continuing to
build over the last few years. It was an awesome challenge to face
the fresh English quicks with the new ball and I would love to
continue to develop my opening skills in the future.
The series seemed tough but played in a good spirit - any amusing
incidents on the field?
The Ashes series was played in a great spirit but it was extremely
competitive! One thing that Paul Collingwood said to me as I walked
out to bat for the first time as an opener for Australia at Edgbaston
made me have a bit of a laugh. He said to me “Watto, this is not the
IPL now mate.” Thanks for the scoop Colly! I knew this was completely
different to the IPL, having Freddie Flintoff charging in flat out trying
to hurt me with a bright red Duke ball!
You seemed to develop a good rivalry with Andrew Flintoff?
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.
To be able to take him on with a new ball in his hand was such an
awesome challenge and something that I absolutely loved. It is now a
pity that I won’t be able to do it again in the Test arena.
How was it playing with Warnie? What special qualities does he
bring to the team?
I have been extremely lucky to play a bit with Warnie over my career.
To have him captain me at the Rajasthan Royals was an unbelievable
learning experience that has helped my cricket immensely. He is such
a brilliant tactician and is always challenging individuals to continue
to strive to get the absolute best out of themselves.
During the first year of the IPL, he got the absolute best out of every
single player that we had in our team. This is a very special talent
that Warnie has and I am very lucky to have learnt from the
experiences and what he taught me about myself
Did the teams socialise much during the series and if so were any of
the England players totally different off the field to on it?
Do you think Twenty20 has created a potential new career path for
players?
We didn’t really socialise much at all during the series. It was
extremely competitive on the field during the summer, so it wasn’t
until after the series finished that we had a couple of beers with them
and had a chat.
Yes I do. It is a very lucrative version of cricket so this alone will mean
that some young cricketers coming through will mainly shape their
game towards Twenty20 cricket, but for me Test cricket is the ultimate
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
achieve as a cricketer.
You seemed to generate good pace at The Oval - is your bowling
close to being back to 100%?
My bowling is gradually getting back to 100%. As I really haven’t
bowled much at all since coming back from stress fractures that I had
during last summer, it has been a gradual progression of feeling
comfortable with the slight modifications that I have made to my
bowling technique and also just getting into competitive bowling
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.
You enjoyed a great IPL experience - how was it overall?
The IPL was one of the most amazing experiences of my life for a
number of different reasons. First of all, it was Twenty20 cricket on the
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.
It was also a way of playing International standard cricket without
playing for Australia, which was exactly what I needed at that stage
of my career. Therefore, the IPL was a big stepping stone to me
getting back into the Australian One-Day team and then back into
the Test team as well.
Who are you most looking forward to getting to know with the RTA
SpeedBlitz Blues this year?
I am really looking forward to continuing to get to know Phil Hughes
even more. He is a very special talent and an extremely nice young
guy, so I look forward to spending a lot more time with him this year.
What are your memories of cricket at the SCG?
I made my Test debut at the SCG against Pakistan in 2004, so I have
got a lot of amazing memories of playing there. Getting my first Test
wicket at the SCG was very special and to win so convincingly was
so awesome to be a part of.
Hopefully I will have a few more SCG Test matches to come over the
next few years and a lot more amazing memories.
What do you like doing in your spare time?
I love spending time at home playing with my two dogs, learning new
songs to play on my guitar and going to the beach for a surf or swim.
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.
MAKING A
NAME
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.
ket is Australia’s
rite sport and
The story revolved around her becoming the first female to
represent the First XI at Barker College, a once boys-only
private school on Sydney’s North Shore. One old boy saw
her selection as tokenism and feeling that she had taken
the place of a more deserving male, expressed his
concerns via email to the Old Boys network.
“I honestly couldn’t care,” Healy answered when
asked of the controversy.
all the fun!!
a
“Everyone’s got their own opinion and I don’t
mind. Barker is a very old school with traditions
so I can understand why someone would have an
Healy
issue but I don’t care. I had fun doing it.”
Check out
If your aged
between 8-14,
why not come along to
CricHit and
get involved!
If you’ve played before,
very handy player
ask your CricHit centre
and another cousin
(with the surname
about CricHit Twilight…
Boon) played underage
tournaments
Queensland.
all forthe
fun of Cricket with
However Alyssa was never
NO BOYS!
pushed into cricket, rather found her
own way to the game as a seven-yearold when a friend took her to a Have-AGo clinic.
CricHit Skills is $45
CricHit Twilight is $55
“After about two weeks my friend was off playing
in the sandpit while I was hitting balls of tees. I loved
it!” remembered Healy, who is now the face of Cricket
NSW’s CricHit program, promoting young girls to
follow in her footsteps.
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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
whose quick with a one-liner and always laughing at something.
“Growing up I didn’t really understand what Uncle Ian was doing.
That didn’t happen until I got a bit older and started playing. I don’t
think his career had anything to do with me starting out in cricket.
If I hadn’t gone to that Have-A-Go clinic I may never have played!”
“The younger girls are usually quite shy and timid when they work
with the older players. But Alyssa and Ellyse Perry were quite the
opposite. When they were 10 or 11 they were the life of the
party!” remembers Breakers captain Lisa Sthalekar, who has
known Healy from a young age.
Healy’s competitive career began with the Carlingford Waratah
Cricket Club in Sydney’s North West. She started out as a bowler
but showed more aptitude for wicketkeeping. It could have been
a coincidence – or possibly genetics at work!
The Healy’s are a strong cricketing family. In addition to Uncle Ian,
Uncle Ken also played for Queensland. Alyssa’s father Greg was a
Over the next few years she more than held her own with the boys
and those formative years in juniors played a major role in her
development.
w.playcricket.com
ricHit close to you!
8
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
02 6028 or
Aimee Harris on (02) 83
sw.com.au
aimee.harris@cricketn
“I really enjoyed playing with the boys.
Especially representative cricket for Northern
District where I was playing with guys like
Mitchell Starc, who is now in the NSW
squad, and few of the other guys are playing
First and Second Grade too,” she said.
“I didn’t realise it back then, but it really
helped my cricket. Getting into U/15’s
where you’re still playing on synthetic
wickets and the boys are getting taller and
stronger – it makes you work a lot harder!”
After two seasons in the National U/21’s,
Healy starts this summer as a first time
member of the senior Australian squad.
There she replaces former club and State
team mate, Leonie Coleman, who had
retired from international cricket at the end
of the World Cup and has since moved to
the ACT Meteors. For so long Coleman’s
understudy, Healy will take her place
behind the stumps at NSW.
Around the time she reached U/14’s, Healy
also began playing women’s cricket, joining
the Balmain Cricket Club (now Sydney CC)
as a wicketkeeper in the lower grades.
While working her way up the Grades
there, she also continued to test herself
against the men, leading to a character
building stint in the Barker First XI.
“Leonie and I have been friends ever since
I started coming through the grades at
Balmain. It wasn’t the way that I wanted to
take the gloves but these things happen and
I wish her all the best at the ACT. I am a
little nervous about the season, but it’s one
of the challenges that you come across,
and I am really looking forward to having
a keep!” she admitted.
“Playing for Barker definitely helped me.
Playing two day cricket was a new
experience and having guys bowling
consistently outside off-stump and on a
length made me work extremely hard,”
she revealed.
One of Healy’s best assets is her ability to
maintain perspective. Whatever the results
on the field, her behavior off it rarely
changes from the vivacious, cheeky
teenager eager for a chat or joke amongst
her family and friends.
“When I first started playing with the boys
my shots weren’t as good as I wanted them
to be. But that changed the more I played.
It got my driving going and I became more
confident on the back foot because
everyone was trying to bounce me!”
“I am incredibly laid back for anyone who
knows me. Nothing really bothers me – there
are bigger things in life and silly things
shouldn’t really bother you,” she argued.
“In cricket there are always things that are
going to make you a little angry and a little
bit upset. But there’s always the next game.
Of course I’ll be angry when I get out but
then you have your little moment and its
straight back to it. There’s the team you’ve
got to worry about – not just yourself.”
While bearing a famous cricketing surname
will inevitably draw attention, it is important
to acknowledge that Alyssa Healy is
starting to make a name for herself,
whether it is playing with the boys or
excelling with the Breakers. But for the end
of her career, her wish is simple.
“I always thought I’d like to be remembered
as someone with a long career. But I don’t
care if I am not the leading run scorer or
have the most stumpings – I just want to be
remembered as someone who enjoyed it.”
It is an honest and true reflection on the
way she plays the game, but Healy can’t
help herself and with a cheeky grin quickly
delivers the punch line:
“But none of that matters as I’ll always
be Ian Healy’s niece!”
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
cricket in the last 10 years?
Are you happy with the progress that has
been made in the area of participation?
Kids today have so much choice in terms of
what they do with their leisure time, whether
it’s the internet, video games or something
else. It’s just been a huge challenge for us to
get them playing cricket.
When I joined Cricket NSW in 2001, our
participants stood at about 100,000. We’re
now at about 175,000. I’m very proud of
that and it’s been a massive team effort
state-wide. The fact that we’ve had a 75%
increase in participants over the last eight
years is fantastic but the other sports are just
as focused on achieving the same results.
Thirty or forty years ago when I was
growing up you came home from school
and went straight to the street, or into the
backyard, and you played with your
brother or neighbours. You couldn’t wait for
the weekend to come to play cricket. It’s not
the case now. Kids have so many distractions.
I think Twenty20 has been a big help in
making the game more appealing to the
younger brigade, and also to parents.
I’ve stood on the sidelines watching my
daughters at Saturday morning sport and
heard the complaints about the amount of
time a cricket match takes up.
We can do one of two things. We can bury
our heads in the sand and pretend it will all
go away, or we can do something about it.
And I think in recent times we’ve done that,
in terms of the time a match takes and also
how involved all the players are. Everyone
gets a go and some poor kid doesn’t get
stood at long stop behind the wicketkeeper
never touching the ball.
The bottom line is we are here to develop
and promote cricket in NSW and getting
kids playing the game is a huge part of that.
10
Is State cricket in better condition now than
it has been in the past?
In terms of coverage, Fox Sports’
involvement in domestic cricket has been
outstanding. We are not getting as many
weekend matches or games at suburban
grounds, however Fox Sports are paying a
lot of money for the rights and that goes
back into the grass roots of the game. So
it’s a win-win for everyone.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed
that we don’t see more of our international
players in State cricket. However that’s the
way the international programming is but it
is a regrettable situation. When young
players come in they don’t get to play
against the best players straight up. To my
way of thinking that makes the jump up to
Test cricket much harder.
England has moved away from the 50 over
format. Do you see a similar trend for
Australian cricket?
It’s the huge talking point at the moment but
I don’t think that we can afford to jump to
hasty conclusions. There’s no doubt that
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
Twenty20 has brought a lot of focus on the
relevance of 50 over cricket. But I believe
there’s a balance to be achieved.
The 50 over format certainly needs a ‘shot
in the arm’. We probably need to look at
refreshing it and making it more interactive
with the general public. I don’t believe the
public relate to the Power Plays so that
could be looked at. I’d also look back to
when we played the ING Cup and there
was a lot of crowd interaction when players
hit signs and won cash. It’s a simple
promotion but the crowd loved it!
The bottom line is the 50 over game offers the
broadcaster 7-8 hours of television. And that’s
why there is a fight on to retain it because if
you get rid of it, then that’s hours that the
broadcaster has to find somewhere else.
But now’s not the time to panic. My
understanding is that there are already very
significant commercial arrangements in
place for the 2011 and 2015 World Cups
and cricket must not jeopardise those
income streams.
What were your first thoughts when you
were presented with the concept for the
Champions League Twenty20?
From an Australian cricket point of view it
was vital. State teams were seeing a lot of
our expertise – players, coaches and
support staff – exported to the IPL and while
those individuals were doing very well out
of it, nothing financially was coming back
to Australian cricket.
That was becoming a real concern for the
administrators because we were producing
these resources but in terms of money
coming back to Australian cricket, we
weren’t seeing any.
Cricket Australia has 30% equity in the
Champions League so we are now going to
see revenue coming back to Australian
cricket by virtue of the competition coming
into being. To me that is the biggest plus.
are now five or six players who have moved
on and yet the team still dominates. We’ve
always been able to maintain a level of
consistency in NSW and that’s because the
girls have always felt supported and that
we’re in this for the long haul.
But also it’s huge that the NSW team gets
to show its wares on the world stage.
We’ve never had that opportunity before!
We’ve always been very proud of the fact
that statistically we’re the greatest domestic
cricket team in the world so here’s a chance
to prove it.
The women who ran the game prior to
integration deserve huge credit for what
they did. They established a very strong
structure with very little resources. When
integration happened the women’s game
was in a very healthy state. I’d like to think
it’s now even healthier but it’s very important
to acknowledge the role of the people who
were running women’s cricket at the time,
like Wendy Weir, Ann Mitchell, Chris
Brierley and Rina Hore. They were fantastic
stalwarts for women’s cricket in NSW.
Do you see the concept of freelance players
growing?
Do you see women’s cricket having
commercial value in the future?
I think it’s inevitable. We’ve recently seen
Andrew Symonds and Andrew Flintoff
make that decision. However I don’t think a
player is going to be able to do that until
he’s established himself as a profile player,
which Symonds and Flintoff obviously are.
It would be a very dangerous and career
threatening move by a youngster to take
their chances and back their ability to make
it in the 20 over game.
That’s where I see Twenty20 as the biggest
opportunity for the women’s game. And at
the end of the day the general public, when
they turn on their television, want to be
entertained. And if they see a skill level
they appreciate and they’re being
entertained, they’ll watch it. The Women’s
World Cup opened a lot of eyes to the skill
levels the girls’ possess.
Someone like David Warner, who is
comparatively new to First Class cricket, would
be the first to admit that it would be crazy for
him to become a freelancer. He’s still learning
his trade and the best place for him to do that
is in the Australian cricket environment. But
down the line, when he establishes himself and
becomes a prominent name, it’s going to be
very tempting for him.
In your time as Chief Executive you’ve
overseen the integration of women’s cricket
into Cricket NSW. Has that been one of the
major success stories?
I am immensely proud of that. We
integrated in 2003 so we’re now six years
on. I remember that at the time there was a
lot of concern from the then NSW Women’s
Cricket Association that this was just the
men taking over the women’s game with no
long term plan or conviction to see the
women’s game prosper. I’d like to think that
six years on we’ve certainly shown that this
is not the case.
The money that’s been invested by Cricket
NSW into the women’s game is by far the
best of any State in Australia. We’ve got a
fantastic Breakers team that dominates. If
you look at the team three years ago there
The fact that Cricket Australia has
introduced a women’s Twenty20
competition, and there are a lot of games
before the men’s matches this year, is only
going to help. I think it’s inevitable that the
women’s Twenty20 internationals played
before the men’s Twenty20 internationals
are going to be broadcast in full rather than
just highlights.
That’s a huge positive for the women’s
game. You like to think this will generate
sponsorship and, from that, a better deal
for women cricketers because at the
moment they are playing for the love and
the honour. They deserve more.
In the last 10 years Cricket NSW has
appeared to decentralise many of its
programs. What are the reasons behind this?
We had to. The SCG is an outstanding
complex for cricket but it’s in the Eastern
Suburbs of Sydney and if you’re living in
Penrith, Campbelltown, Blacktown,
Kellyville or Hornsby, it is a long haul.
I think by decentralising some of our
programs, whether its Emerging Blues and
Breakers, Ford Ranger Cup, WNCL or
Twenty20 Big Bash matches, it keeps our
product contemporary with the population.
The No.1 Oval and Grandstand at Blacktown
Olympic Park.
What’s been built at Blacktown Olympic
Park will go down as one of the most
visionary projects that Cricket NSW has
ever been involved in. 30 or 40 years in
the future people are going to say “Those
guys got it right. They identified a growing
area of Sydney and set up outstanding
playing and training facilities for the
generation of cricketers that we’re now
responsible for”.
I make no apology for Cricket NSW’s
decision to decentralise its programs
because we have to. We are the NSW
Cricket Association. Our job is to develop
and promote the game in NSW.
The next focus is to get country facilities up to
scratch. We have to get facilities in areas like
Tamworth, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Albury,
Lismore that are not only going to be able to
stage elite level cricket matches, but also
provide facilities for youngsters to be the best
that they can be. We need to work closely
with State and local government on this.
Do you see international cricket moving
away from the SCG?
The SCG has staged Test matches in NSW
since 1882. It’s got a very proud and rich
tradition. At the same time, the ground, like
any other, must pay its way. For it to retain
such a high profile sport, and one so
appealing, it comes at a cost.
In my role as Chief Executive, an on-going
difficulty has been getting people to
recognise and understand that the SCG
Trust run a ground and we run a sport.
Cricket NSW does not run the SCG and
the SCG Trust does not run cricket.
If both organisations respect each others’
position and future negotiations are
conducted in the appropriate manner, then
everyone wins.
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
11
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By David Townsend
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
spoke to Go Blues about furthering his cricketing education with the
Kings XI and some of the leading players in the world.
How did your signing for the Kings XI Punjab come about?
I actually didn’t put my name forward at the auction but a close
friend of mine, Bill Anderson (former NSW cricket coach), rang me
with a message from Neil Maxwell (former NSW cricketer and
now cricket agent) that I had received a contract.
What were your expectations going into the IPL?
To be totally honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect! After watching
it on television last year it seemed like a great tournament and
something I really wanted to be part of, so I kept my mind open
to learning as much as I could and trying to take in every aspect
of the experience
being in the same team as him! Being able to train, bowl together
and get tips from him was brilliant and we got on well.
How was it to meet and mix with some of the best players in the world?
It was amazing! Growing up in Newcastle I never imagined that
I would rub shoulders with most of those guys so to be able to
speak to them and watch them go about their cricket was amazing,
and I learnt a great deal.
Was there one player in particular that you got to chat to that was a
highlight?
Glenn McGrath! Being from the country and idolising him, it was
a massive highlight to meet him and spend some time chatting. He
didn’t let me down and I have a great deal of respect for him.
How did you find South Africa?
Was it disappointing not to play?
Yes it was to be honest. But the fact that it was my first year meant
that I just chose to look at it as a fantastic learning experience.
I also thought that whatever happened it was going to offer a big
opportunity to improve my cricket just by being around guys who
knew the game. Hopefully, next year I can use that knowledge
if I get selected to play.
Who did you learn the most from?
Definitely Brett Lee - he helped me in a range of different areas.
Because I looked up to him growing up, it felt weird at first just
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
of safaris, play with baby lions and pat a cheetah which was a bit
intense as they seemed ready to snap at any moment! I also got to
visit Table Mountain which was an experience in itself and offered
some great views of the beaches and city.
How do you think your game has developed in the past two years?
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
about myself and what I am capable of with every game. I just
back my ability more now and try not to over-complicate things.
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Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
13
thE 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
International Cricket Hall of Fame will attract thousands of
visitors and celebrate the history and development of cricket
worldwide. But your help is needed to make it outstanding.
payment details, or for further information call Rina Hore
on 02 4861 6011. To keep up with this historic project go
to www.bradman.com.au
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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Phone number : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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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.Au
SPECIAL LIFTOUT
India, 8-23 October 2009
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TWENTY20 SQUAD
Matthew Mott
Coach
Simon Katich (c)
Aaron Bird
Doug Bollinger
Nathan Bracken
Stuart Clark
David Freedman
Assistant Coach
Nathan Hauritz
Moises Henriques
Phillip Hughes
Brett Lee
Stephen O’Keefe
Ben Rohrer
Daniel Smith
Steven Smith
Dominic Thornely
David Warner
No. 43
No. 21
No. 99
SCHEDULE
GROUP STAGE
No. 19
LEAGUE STAGE
VENUE
TEAMS
TIME
9 October
Delhi
NSW Blues vs Diamond Eagles
16:00
11 October
Delhi
NSW Blues vs Sussex Sharks
16:00
Sussex Sharks vs Diamond Eagles
20:00
All times are Indian Standard Time (4 1/2 hours behind AEDST)
GROUP STAGE
No. 72
No. 58
No. 27
No. 31
SEMI FINAL
FINAL
The result of the Group Stage matches between the teams that qualify
for the League Stage will be carried through to the League Points Table.
DATE
VENUE
LEAGUE
TEAMS
TIME
Thu, Oct 15
Bangalore
B
C1 v D2
20:00
Fri Oct 16
Hyderabad
A
A2 v B2
16:00
A1 v B1
20:00
C2 v D2
16:00
C1 v D1
20:00
A2 v B1
16:00
A1 v B2
20:00
C2 v D1
20:00
Sat Oct 17
GROUP A
GROUP B
GROUP C
GROUP D
A1
Deccan Chargers
(India)
B1
NSW Blues
(Australia)
C1
Royal Challengers
Bangalore (India)
D1
Delhi Daredevils
(India)
Sun Oct 18
A2
Somerset Sabres
(England)
B2
Diamond Eagles
(South Africa)
C2
Cape Cobras
(South Africa)
D2
Victorian Bushrangers
(Australia)
Mon Oct 19
A3
Trinidad & Tobago
(West Indies)
B3
Sussex Sharks
(England)
C3
Otago Volts
D3
Wayamba
(New Zealand)
(Sri Lanka)
LEAGUE STAGE
There will be two leagues comprising four teams each.
Each team will have to play the teams in its League Group
that it did not play during the Group Stage.
LEAGUE A
LEAGUE B
A1
C1
A2
C2
B1
D1
B2
D2
2
No. 10
No. 59
LEAGUE POINTS TABLE
DATE
Delhi
No. 22
No. 13
GROUP B DRAW
13 October
No. 4
No. 3
No. 37
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
Bangalore
Hyderabad
Delhi
B
A
B
SEMI FINALS
The top two teams from each League will qualify for the Semi Finals.
DATE
VENUE
MATCH
TEAMS
TIME
Wed Oct 21
Delhi
Semi Final 1
Winner League B Vs
Runner-Up League A
20:00
Thu Oct 22
Hyderabad
Semi Final 2
Winner League A Vs
Runner-Up League B
20:00
FINALS
The winner of each Semi Final will qualify for the Grand Final.
DATE
VENUE
MATCH
TEAMS
TIME
Fri Oct 23
Hyderabad
GRAND FINAL
Winner Semi Final 1 Vs
Winner Semi Final 2
20:00
By 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
world, India has been a graveyard for many
international teams and the downfall of players who
have failed to embrace the country or its conditions.
While hockey is listed by Wikipedia as the country’s National sport,
cricket is clearly its passion with fans packing out every vantage
point at stadiums for big matches – even if it puts their life at risk!
India’s prominence in the cricket world is growing and never has it
been more important to expose young cricketers to this foreign
land. It’s a view that has been held by Cricket NSW High
Performance Manager, Alan Campbell, for many years with the
first NSW Colts tour to India taking place in 2005.
“That Colts team from 2005 included several players who will play
in the Champions League. Ben Rohrer, Daniel Smith, Moises
Henriques - they’ve all been to India. To me that tour was a terrific
investment on the part of NSW cricket,” said Campbell.
The NSW team also undertook a pre-season tour in Bangalore
before the start of the 2005/06 season, and in 2008 Cricket
NSW sent its U/19 male and female teams. Again it was a
valuable learning experience in vastly different conditions that can’t
always be replicated at home.
“The wickets we played on in India varied quite a bit. There were
dusty low turning wickets, bouncy turning wickets. Then we had
some fast bouncy wickets. The ball was also a lot harder and it
wears a lot quicker,” explained Campbell.
“We prepare kids to play in all conditions. But to replicate the
conditions of the sub-continent is very difficult!” he added.
While adapting to pitches and bowlers in India was an important
focus, there was equal focus on helping players to handle the side
of India that you don’t see in a stadium.
“The off-field side of things can be very confronting. You’ve got
poverty, hunger, homelessness. You’ve got people living on the
streets, in slums. Then you’ve got the heat and humidity. You have
to be careful what you eat and drink,” Campbell warns.
“The exposure to that culture and environment is a necessary part
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
cricket played in India, whether they are playing for Australia, their
State or the IPL. They have to be able to overcome those hurdles.”
NSW young guns Steve Smith and Moises Henriques have just
returned home from India with an Australian Institute of Sport team.
It was a useful preparation for the Champions League where
Henriques hit 113 not out in a one-day match while Smith smashed
219 and took 6-31in a three-day fixture.
“It is quite different over there so the recent tour was useful in terms
of getting used to local conditions. The heat and humidity was a
major factor so experiencing it first hand was a positive,” said Smith.
India is a country famous for its spinners so Smith spent months at the
Centre of Excellence honing his technique against the slow bowlers.
“They bowled a lot of spin but I found it much easier to play having
worked on it for such a long time,” he admitted.
In addition to facing the conditions, international cricket will also
have to face the growing level of talent produced by India’s cricket
fields. The sport is now being seen as a legitimate source of
income and anecdotal evidence suggests parents are less likely to
push children away from cricket in favour of a university degree, as
was once the case.
The Australian Institute of Sport believes that 10% of the population
aged between 10 and 19 can be considered talented in one sport
or another. Based on figures from the 2007 US Census Bureau,
Australia has a talent pool of approximately 280,000 people to fill
its National teams. Based on the same estimates, India’s talent pool
stands at 22.5 million.
It’s just another factor that adds to the challenge of conquering India.
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
3
BROADCASTING
By David Townsend
CRICKETTO THE FANS
The upcoming Airtel Champions League Twenty20 is going to be dramatic.
Think Champions League soccer in
Europe with Manchester United, Real
Madrid, Barcelona and others, then
substitute the best cricketers in the
world playing for domestic franchises
for the first time in the exciting format
of Twenty20.
The whole concept will pit the best
Twenty20 players on the planet in a new
environment. Some, like Victorian Dirk
Nannes, will represent teams against their
own domestic side while many others will
play for teams representing other countries.
Coming after the excitement generated by
the IPL, the tournament promises to take
everything up another notch. No spectator
could have been anything but blown away
by the Final of the KFC Big Bash last year
when NSW beat Victoria on the last ball.
Having been at the game, it was difficult not
to notice the noise and atmosphere
generated by 17,000 fans at ANZ Stadium.
It was one of the few times that people have
been on their feet chanting ‘NSW’ at any
domestic cricket match. Cricket has been
taken to a whole new audience.
The Airtel Champions League Twenty20
host broadcasters ESPN Star Sports (ESS)
feel exactly the same. ESS is a joint venture
between ESPN (Walt Disney) and Star TV
(News Corporation). Having launched in
1996 they deliver 24 hours of sport every
day, operating across 17 channels in 24
countries throughout Asia. In terms of
4
overall reach, the figures are staggering
and have enormous implications to the
coverage of this particular tournament.
Over 310 million people watch ESS channels
every day across more than 140 million
homes in Asia. Programs are broadcast in six
languages producing over 1800 hours of
original programming each year.
As well as the Airtel Champions League
Twenty20, ESS hold the rights to a range of
major sporting events including the Summer
and Winter Olympics, English Premier
League, Wimbledon, The Masters Golf,
NBA and Formula One.
ESS has realised the success of International
club events in other sports. In addition to
the UEFA Champions League, the Heineken
Cup has been an enormous success in
Europe. Pitting the best rugby union clubs
and provinces against each other in a
group-stage format followed by Quarter
Finals, Semi Finals and a Final has seen
these matches produce tremendous crowds.
The chance to see English vs French clubs
and Scottish vs Irish has allowed national
passions to be re-ignited. This exciting new
dimension for emotional fans has created a
new arena in which the best can play the
best as well as a platform to allow new stars
to emerge on a world stage.
ESS have realised the potential of cricket
being the world’s second biggest sport in
terms of global following. Having been the
first broadcaster to take ‘live’ cricket into
mainland Europe with the ICC World
Twenty20 Tournament in England earlier
this year, ESS have invested over US $2.3
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
billion into the game in the last three years
alone. With this they have tried to use the
game to drive innovation into sports
broadcasting.
World class production and a best of the
world commentary team have been their
hallmarks, along with new camera angles,
greater communication with players and
two-way communication with umpires that
allows the viewer to witness decisions
being explained.
The Airtel Champions League Twenty20 will
be covered by 30 cameras per match,
including a roving ‘fly’ camera in the air,
reversible slips camera and reversible stump
camera. Innovative graphics on top of ‘HawkEye’ will allow the viewer to see speed off the
bat statistics, boundary dimensions as well as
the popular six-hitting distances which
showed how far each ‘maximum’ travelled. It
will allow them to keep a track of the biggest
six hitters in the competition, an honour that
went to West Indian Chris Gayle at the recent
Twenty20 World Cup.
On-ground player interviews, half-time
captain’s opinions and unprecedented
player access will also form the backbone of
coverage of a tournament that ESS hope will
offer international cricket fans a new context
in which the ‘best play the best’ in club
colours, and ultimately an annual showpiece
event for cricket lovers around the world.
Every match of the 2009 Champions
League Twenty20 will be shown live on
One HD. To find out more about broadcast
times visit www.onehd.com.au.
AN 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.
On the surface it sounds like an easy gig, but heading
into the Airtel Champions League Twenty20, NSW
Performance Analyst has a crucial role in preparing
the side for battle.
Ware joined the NSW support staff in 2006 after working with
the Queensland Bulls. Since then he has watched close to every
ball of every NSW match, meticulously logging minute details
on his SportsCode analysis program that will help identify the
strengths and weaknesses of the opposition, as well as areas his
own players could improve.
At the Champions League the Blues will be facing many of the
teams, and players, for the first time. And captain Simon Katich
believes the pre-tournament analysis of oppositions side will be vital.
“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
we know, but not complete teams. That’s going to be important
because it’s a cut-throat event. We need to get two wins under our
belt to qualify for the quarter finals. Our homework will be done
in depth,” assured Katich.
Ware’s job is to gather as much footage as he can on the
opposition, starting with their Pool B opponents, the Sussex
Sharks and Diamond Eagles.
“We’ve been lucky that Sussex have been drawn in our pool.
I spent a good part of last year on a work exchange with their
team so I have a good knowledge of their players. They’ve also
been kind enough to put all of their match highlights on their
website for everyone to look at!” said Ware.
“The Diamond Eagles are a little bit tougher because we haven’t
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!”
..
Once Ware has the footage, he cuts it up into packages for each
opposition player with clips including their strengths, weakness
and how they are getting out. These are then given to the NSW
squad to watch and study on DVD’s, or even on their iPods.
“I think in Twenty20 cricket if you know what a player’s favourite
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
out as well,” explained Ware.
And he doesn’t just use video to compile his dossiers. Player input
is also important to his job.
“I am using the players’ knowledge for this tournament as much
as anyone else!” Ware admits.
“We were lucky to have guys playing for the Centre of Excellence
in the Emerging Players tournament. They have come up against
some of the South African players.”
Once the tournament starts, Ware’s workload increases. With the
assistance of fellow Cricket NSW Performance Analyst, Troy Baker,
he will prepare a dossier on every team in the competition should
the Blues meet them at the later stages of the tournament.
“I am going to be logging games in India and Troy Baker is going to
be doing the same in Sydney. He’ll then upload the files to me.
Between the two of us we are going to make sure we have as much
information on as many players as we can,” Ware explained.
Given the amount of time he spends studying the game, Ware has
learned to be very good cricket watcher.
“You certainly have to like the game and try to take out as much
of it as you can when you are watching. I find that I can’t watch
cricket socially now as I am always looking for things that I would
be looking at if I was at work. It is a job, but one that I enjoy a lot!”
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
5
By 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.com
12 TEAMS
23 MATCHES
1 WINNER
Australia will be well represented at this tournament. Adam Gilchrist
and Justin Langer are the captains of Deccan and Somerset
respectively. Deccan also has the services of Queensland duo
Andrew Symonds and Ryan Harris while Dirk Nannes has chosen to
represent Delhi instead of his native Victoria.
Even without Nannes, the Victorian Bushrangers field a threatening
line-up with White, Hussey and Hodge the stars of a strong batting
line-up. The fact they even reached this tournament without this trio
speaks volumes for the ability of the three time National Champions!
Sri Lanka may only be represented by one side, Wayamba, however
they have been fortunate to name five members of the team which
finished second at the 2009 ICC Twenty20 World Cup. However the
star of that tournament, Tillakaratne Dilshan, will be working against
his countrymen when he turns out for Delhi.
South African side, the Cape Cobras, also have a strong side
featuring Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs and JP Duminy. New
Zealand side, Otago, will be be spearheaded by one of the leading
wicketkeeper-batsmen, Brendon McCullum, who also appeared for
NSW in last summer’s KFC Twenty20 Big Bash Final.
On their home turf, the Indians will certainly be the ones to watch closely.
The intimate knowledge of local conditions could see some of the lesser
names in each of the IPL franchises star and big performances are
always expected from the likes of Sehwag, Kumble and Dravid.
However before worrying about the rest of the field, NSW will have
to negotiate their way past the English T20 champions, Sussex
Sharks, and South Africa’s Diamond Eagles.
“Sussex have got some dangerous players. They’ll have Piyush Chawla
who’s a very good leg spinner and dangerous lower order batsman.
They’ve also got Yasir Arafat from Pakistan, who’s a very good bowler at
the death with a good change of pace,” explained Katich.
“They are a good team,” warned Katich. “They’ve been successful in
County Cricket for quite a while now. They have a good culture and
will be a very well drilled unit.”
The Diamond Eagles side won’t be well known to Australian
audiences. Captain Boeta Dippenaar is the most familiar name but
there are some other players to also keep an eye on. Jandre Coetzee
is well regarded as a Twenty20 bowler with an economy rate of
5.82 and strike rate of 12.7 from his nine matches. Rilee Rossouw
and Reeza Hendricks have also shown promise with the bat whilst
Ryan McLaren has been a consistent performer for Kent in English
County Cricket.
So how will NSW, the most successful provincial team in First Class
cricket, fair in this newest tournament? Tune in to One HD and
www.nswblues.com to find out……..
AIRTEL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TWENTY20 SQUADS
NSW Blues (Australia)
Simon Katich (c), Phillip Hughes, Brett Lee,
Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Moises
Henriques, Nathan Hauritz, Daniel Smith,
Doug Bollinger, Stephen O’Keefe,
Ben Rohrer, Steven Smith, Aaron Bird,
Dominic Thornely, David Warner
Trinidad & Tobago (West Indies)
Daren Ganga (c), Sherwin Ganga, Dwayne
Bravo, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi
Rampaul, Lendl Simmons, Dave Mohammed,
Keiron Pollard, William Perkins, Samuel
Badree, Rayad Emrit, Navin Stewart,
Sunil Narine, Adrian Barath
Victorian Bushrangers (Australia)
Cameron White (c), Brad Hodge, Peter
Siddle, David Hussey, Andrew McDonald,
Jon Holland, Clinton McKay, Robert Quiney,
Matthew Wade, Aiden Blizzard, Aaron
Finch, Shane Harwood, John Hastings,
Damien Wright, Bryce McGain
Delhi Daredevils (India)
Virender Sehwag (c), Tillakaratne Dilshan,
Gautam Gambhir, Dirk Nannes, Dinesh
Karthik, Daniel Vettori, Ashish Nehra, Amit
Mishra, AB De Villiers, Paul Collingwood,
Owais Shah, Pradeep Sangwan, Aavishkar
Salvi, Rajat Bhatia, Mithun Manhas
Otago Volts (New Zealand)
Diamond Eagles (South Africa)
Craig Cumming (c), Brendon McCullum,
Nathan McCullum, Aaron Redmond, Neil
Broom, Ian Butler, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Greg
Todd, Hamish Rutherford, Derek de Boorder,
Nick Baird, Warren McSkimming, Neil
Wagner, Mattew Harvie, James McMillan
Cape Cobras (South Africa)
Boeta Dippenaar (c), Dillion du Preez, Morne
van Wyk, Mthandeki Tshbalala, Adrian
McLaren, Ryan McLaren, Victor Mpitsang,
Ryan Bailey, Jandre Coetzee, Cornelis De
Villiers, Dean Elgar, Reeza Hendricks, Alan
Kruger, Rilee Rossouw, Shadley van Schalkwyk
Somerset Sabres (England)
Graeme Smith (c), Hershelle Gibbs,
JP Duminy, Justin Ontong, Charl Langeveldt,
Claude Henderson, Monde Zondeki, Vernon
Philander, Henry Davids, Derek Brand,
Francois Plaatjies, Ryan Canning, Rory
Kleinveldt, Richard Levi, Sybrand Engelbrecht
Wayamba (Sri Lanka)
Jehan Mubarak (c), Mahela Jayawardene,
Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Farveez
Maharoof, Kaushlya Lokuarachchi, Jeevantha
Kulathunga, Mahela Udawatta, Thisara Perera,
Sameera Soysa, Shalika Karunanayake,
Isuru Udana, Ishara Amerasinghe, Chanka
Welagedera, Michael Vandort
Sussex Sharks (England)
Justin Langer (c), Marcus Trescothick, Zander
de Bruyn, Omari Banks, James Hildreth,
Craig Kieswetter, Pete Trego, Arul Suppiah,
Alfonso Thomas, Max Waller, Charl
Willoughby, Wes Durston, Mark Turner,
Jos Butler, Ben Phillips
Royal Challengers Bangalore
(India)
Anil Kumble (c), Rahul Dravid, Robin
Uthappa, Jacques Kallis, Ross Taylor,
Dale Steyn, Manish Pandey, Praveen Kumar,
Jesse Ryder, Roelof Van Der Merwe,
Mark Boucher, Vinay Kumar, Virat Kohli,
Akhil Balachandra, Rajesh Bishoni
Deccan Chargers (India)
Michael Yardy (c), Luke Wright, Piyush
Chawla, Dwayne Smith, Edmund Joyce, Joe
Gatting, Robin Martin-Jenkins, William Beer,
Andrew Hodd, Christopher Nash,
Ben Brown, Rory Hamilton-Brown,
Yasir Arafat, Chad Keegan, James Kirtley
Adam Gilchrist (c), VVS Laxman, Rohit Sharma,
Andrew Symonds, Fidel Edwards, Scott Styris,
Chaminda Vaas, RP Singh, Ryan Harris,
Pragyan Ojha, Y Venugopal Rao, T Suman,
Ashar Bilakhia, Harmeet Singh, SM Shoaib
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
7
Save time, renew your rego online.
Why not save yourself a trip to the motor registry and
renew your rego online? It’s the fast and easy option.
It takes just three easy steps to renew your rego online:
1. Purchase the appropriate CTP green slip as usual.
2. Get an e-Safety check (previously a pink slip)*.
3. Go online to myRTA.com or call 1300 360 782
and follow the simple steps to renew your rego.
*Some exemptions apply. See your latest registration renewal notice.
For more information visit myRTA.com
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09/10 RTA SPEEDBLITZ BLUES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Simon Katich (captain)
Aaron Bird
Doug Bollinger
Nathan Bracken
Mark Cameron
Beau Casson
Stuart Clark
Michael Clarke
Burt Cockley
Peter Forrest
Brad Haddin
Nathan Hauritz
Aaron Bird
After a season in which he played a starring
role in both forms of limited overs cricket,
Bird could be extremely satisfied with his
bowling performances. He is a deceptively
quick right-arm bowler who took 21 wickets
in the Ford Ranger Cup at 22.19 and 13
scalps in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash at
14.07. In addition, he played some excellent
lower order innings, none more valuable than
his 17no from 10 balls versus Tasmania
which boosted the net run rate and helped
the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues make the Final. Bird
also made a return in the Weet-Bix Sheffield
Shield with a one-off match against Victoria,
taking 3/116. Off the field, Bird appeared in
the successful ‘Men of Cricket’ Calendar and
is looking to a career in the fitness industry
when he finishes playing cricket.
Ben Rohrer
Josh Hazlewood
After a satisfying season in which he became
a permanent part of the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues
team, and was awarded man-of-the-match in
the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash Final, Rohrer
would be very pleased with his progress. A
wristy left-hand batsman who is particularly
strong through the off-side, Rohrer scored
322 runs at an average of 46 for NSW in the
Sheffield Shield last season, including a
superb 109 versus South Australia at the
SCG. His most memorable moments though
were saved for the Big Bash, as he not only
fielded brilliantly but also scored a matchwinning 44 not out from 20 balls in the Final,
including consecutive sixes off Bryce McGain
that changed the course of the match. A
product of the East Hills Boys High School
that also produced the Waugh brothers,
Rohrer is viewed as a future captain of NSW.
Moises Henriques
Phillip Hughes
Phil Jaques
Usman Khawaja
Grant Lambert
Brett Lee
Greg Mail
Peter Nevill
Stephen O’Keefe
Ben Rohrer
Daniel Smith
Steven Smith
Mitchell Starc
Dominic Thornely
David Warner
Stephen O’Keefe
A slow left-arm orthodox bowler and stylish
right hand batsman, O’Keefe was particularly
effective in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. His
performance in the Big Bash preliminary
match against Victoria at ANZ Stadium was
crucial. Bowling the last over of the match,
O’Keefe saw his first delivery disappear for
six but held his nerve to ensure victory by
two runs which meant NSW qualified for the
Final and also the Champions League T20
competition. O’Keefe was also a member of
the Australian team that took part in the
Hong Kong Sixes and was involved in a
similar finish, being at the crease as
Australia lost by just one run to England in
the Final. O’Keefe is desperate to add to his
solitary First Class match and prove he has a
future in the longer form of the game.
Shane Watson
ROOKIE SQUAD
Daniel Burns
James Crosthwaite
Luke Doran
Scott Henry
Simon Keen
Josh Lalor
Phillip Wells
For all the RTA
SpeedBlitz Blues
squad profiles, visit
www.cricketnsw.com.
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
17
Powerade Sports
Loyalty Rewards Programme
Convert your Club’s drink purchases into merchandise.
Exclusive Supplier of all Non-Alcoholic beverages to Cricket NSW and the SCA, including
Pantone 877 Pantone 109 Pantone 355 Pantone 287
Cricket Clubs that are
registered on the Powerade
Sports Loyalty Rewards
WEB site www.tpf.com.au/
sportsloyalty and purchase
their product directly from
Coca-Cola Amatil, are
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of The Coca-Cola Company. ‘Mount Franklin’ is a registered trade mark of Coca-Cola Amatil.
Member’s Benefits
FREE entry to all RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Sheffield Shield, One-Day
Domestic and Twenty20 home matches played in NSW
EXCLUSIVE Cricket NSW fixture pen
MEET members of the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues at the DWC Meet the
Players BBQ - 1 November 2009, North Sydney Oval*
TEST MATCH LUNCHEON - Australia vs Pakistan, 6 January 2010, SCG*
STEVE WAUGH Medal Dinner*
PLUS MUCH MORE!!!
Visit our website for further information
www.cricketnsw.com
*Additional cost
Memberships
NEW MEMBERS:
$50.00 incl. GST
CURRENT MEMBERS:
$45.00 incl. GST
Hey Kids, help support the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues
in 2009/10 season by becoming a Blue Heelers
Club member for FREE!!!
•Free entry to all RTA SpeedBlitz Blues Sheffield Shield, One-Day
Domestic and Twenty20 home matches.
•The chance to meet members of the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues team at the BHC
‘Meet the Players BBQ’ which will be held on Tuesday 12 January 2010.
•A chance to be selected as the Blue for a Day at one of the RTA
SpeedBlitz Blues home matches.
•A chance to be selected to be a flag bearer at the Australia v Pakistan
Test Match at the SCG.
•A chance to win a private net session with 4 of your friends and 2
members of the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues.
•Go into a draw to be one of the lucky members to be part of the Guard
of Honour at selected RTA SpeedBlitz Blues home matches.
PLUS MUCH MORE!!!!
Check out our website for further information
www.cricketnsw.com
DISCOUNT MEMBERSHIP:2 memberships for
$85.00 incl. GST
$1300 incl. GST
APPLICATION FORM
I wish to become a member of the
Doug Walters Club for 2009/10 - $50.00
I wish to renew my membership of the
Doug Walters Club for 2009/10 - $45.00
I wish to purchase 2 Doug Walters Club
Memberships for 2009/10 - $85.00
Membership
As a member you will receive:
OPPORTUNITY to purchase International tickets
(limited seats available)*
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JOIN BEFORE 31 OCTOBER 2009 TO GO INTO THE
DRAW TO WIN A 2009/10 AUTOGRAPHED RTA
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Please send your Blue Heelers Club membership form to:
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Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
19
09/10 NSW BREAKERS
Lisa Sthalekar (captain)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alex Blackwell (vice-captain)
Sarah Aley
Sarah Andrews
Player of the Year award and
is heavily involved in
developing the next
generation of stars in NSW,
working as the Female High
Performance Coach for
Cricket NSW.
Lisa Sthalekar
Since taking over the
captaincy in 2005-06,
Sthalekar has led the
Breakers to four consecutive
WNCL titles with the latest
coming last summer.
Outstanding form from the
top order meant Sthalekar
didn’t spend a lot of time at
the crease in 2008-09
however she still managed to
score 191 runs in seven
innings at an amazing
average of 95.50. She is
also one of the leading
spinners in the country with
nine wickets at an average of
25.22. She was a finalist in
the 2008 ICC Women’s
2009 ICC Women’s World
Cup where she was dubbed
by her State team mates as a
“Secret Weapon”. Originally
from Tamworth, Osborne
moved to Sydney last season
and was captain of the NSW
XI which played India in a
tour match. She is the
youngest of three children,
with one of her brothers
playing cricket in the ACT
while the other is studying in
the USA with a soccer
scholarship. Winner of the
2008/09 Cricket NSW
Rising Star award.
Kate Blackwell
Sarah Coyte
Nicole Goodwin
Corinne Hall
Alyssa Healy
Sharon Millanta
Erin Osborne
Ellyse Perry
Leah Poulton
Angela Reakes
BREAKERS DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
Clare Crewdson
Rhiannon Dick
Samantha Hinton
Erin Osborne
Picked from the Breakers
Development squad to make
her WNCL debut in 200809, Osborne was the
competition’s equal leading
wicket taker with 15 scalps at
14.20 and an economy rate
of 2.48. Her meteoric rise
was completed with selection
in the Australian team for the
Claire Koski
Alison Parkin
Kara Sutherland
Nicole Goodwin
Gizelle Van der Merwe
Kate Blackwell
The younger of the Blackwell
twins accepted the challenge
of batting at number three
for the Breakers last summer,
returning the impressive
figures of 221 runs at an
average of 44.20 with a top
score of 64 not out.
Surprisingly, it was not
enough for her to retain her
place in the Australian team
for the World Cup or tour of
England, and she will
certainly be determined to
win back her spot this
summer! Although extremely
disappointed to miss out on
the team, Kate used the
World Cup to broaden her
horizons by joining the ABC
Radio Commentary team.
To check out all of the
NSW Breakers and
Development squad
profiles, visit
www.cricketnsw.com.
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
21
There’s even more for Australia’s women
cricketers to play for this summer with double
the number of games and the chance to play
live on Fox Sports!
DOUBLE THE
ACTION
By Sudesh Arudpragasam
The expansion of the women’s cricket calendar in 2009/10
comes about with the introduction of the ACT into the Women’s
National Cricket League, and a formal Twenty20 competition
involving all WNCL teams, plus Tasmania.
“We’ve often trained for six months of the year and only played eight
or nine matches. It wasn’t a good balance. But we are getting that
right this season” explained Breakers top order bat, Kate Blackwell.
Since the start of the competition, WNCL rounds have been played
over one weekend with games traditionally taking place on the
Saturday and Sunday. However this summer the teams will also play
an extra Twenty20 match, creating a triple header long weekend of
cricket, and giving each of the WNCL sides a chance to play at least
16 games in the regular season.
Blackwell is one of those pushing for a place in the National team
after losing her spot last summer.
“My aim is to play much more aggressively and with a bit more
freedom. That’s really exciting for me and I am looking forward to
getting out there and seeing what I can do,” she said.
“There are still opportunities for me. I still have plenty of cricket left
– another five years at least! So that’s plenty of time for me to work
my way back into the side.”
Never cancel a game.
Twenty20 cricket is still fairly new to the women’s calendar and the
new domestic championship follows the inaugural ICC Women’s
World Twenty20 Championships last June.
And Blackwell likes the direction that the new competition is taking,
especially with the Breakers given the chance to play three curtain
raisers to men’s KFC Twenty20 Big Bash matches in Hobart, Sydney
and Perth.
“Twenty20 cricket seems to be where cricket is going worldwide
and women’s cricket is no different. I think it’s even more important
for us to embrace Twenty20 as it’s the shorter format that people
are showing more interest in,” she said.
“The double headers with the men have also been very successful.
We’ve had some international Twenty20 matches which were
televised and the Final of the domestic Twenty20 is going to
broadcast live on Fox Sports too!”
Super Sopper
saves sport!
While new to the competition this summer, the ACT will field a
strong line-up including former South Australian, Kris Britt, and a
number of former NSW representatives, including former Breakers
players Leonie Coleman and Charlotte Anneveld.
“I feel that the ACT will be a strong side and having more teams in
the competition is a positive thing, not just because there will be
more games. There are now avenues for players who are just on
the fringe of playing WNCL to start playing at that level and start
pushing for a place in the National side,” Blackwell argued.
Ph: 02 6553 3508 Email: [email protected]
Go Blues October 2009 www.cricketnsw.com
23
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