FORMER Orange District Cricket Association Cricket of the Year Chris Tremain has inked his first full-time contract with Cricket NSW, ensuring the Yeoval product dons the baggy blue for the Speedblitz Blues for the next two seasons.
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The right-arm quick signed the two-year deal with Cricket NSW yesterday morning, capping a meteoritic rise for the 20-year-old after taking 2-32 on debut with the Blues in a one-day game at the WACA last February.
Tremain made his first class debut at the MCG two weeks later against Victoria, claiming match figures of 6-112 in the four-day contest.
Tremain’s commitment to the Blues comes just days after NSW lost Usman Khawaja and Nathan Hauritz to Queensland and Phil Hughes to South Australia, while veteran paceman Brett Lee knocked back a contract with the state.
However, the trio’s defection and Lee declining a full-time deal with NSW didn’t open the door for the former Kinross Wolaroi tear-away.
Tremain said he was offered the contract with NSW some weeks ago.
“I was offered a contract before Binga declined his,” Tremain revealed.
“Honestly I was happy to get a rookie contract or a full contract, there’s not a lot of difference now. But to get a full contract with a state that’s indicated they’re fully committed in my development over the next two years, I’m extremely lucky.”
What’s Lee’s decision did do is open the door for another Central West product.
Cowra’s Daniel Hughes is also now contracted with the Blues.
It’s a young squad for 2012-13.
One Tremain says has plenty of potential.
“The team has prided itself on being the premier domestic cricket side in the world for a long time,” he said.
“We had a tough year last summer but the boys are determined to get the mantle of best domestic side in the world back.”
He said experienced heads the like of former Test quick Doug Bollinger would help guide the team throughout next summer, a season the Blues have already started preparing for courtesy of two weeks of pre-season training.
“There’s that experience there with Dougie back and Brad Haddin has been around the last couple of weeks. Stephen O’Keefe has been captain and he is really pushing us,” Tremain said.
“There’s the experience in the squad and the younger guys are providing the enthusiasm.”
The NSW Blues will kick of its 2012-13 summer with a one-dayer and a Sheffield Shield double header against Western Australia at the WACA ground in Perth.
Tremain’s aim is to be on the plane to Perth.
However, there is a chance he could still start the season in grade cricket with UNSW.
“I’m not entirely sure on what the plan is at the moment,” he said.
“Either way my aim is to play as many games for NSW as I can.”
Tremain is also in negotiations to play in the second Big Bash competition this summer, with the fiery quick a chance to play along side the likes of Twenty20 hired gun Chris Gayle for the Sydney Thunder.
