NOT A PRETTY PICTURE: James Gough, Adam Smith and Chris Novak at the KFC Big Bash last weekend.
WELCOME to the first installment of Cricki Leaks, a column designed to lift the lid on all the quirky goings on across the Orange District Cricket Association’s senior grades, as well as the work of some of its players on and off the field.
There might not have been any cricket in Orange over the weekend prior to new years but that didn’t stop a group of players from lapping up the great game during the break.
CYMS sent a bus load down to ANZ Stadium for the KFC Big Bash Sydney derby between defending champions Sixers and the winless Thunder, a side containing former ODCA cricketer of the year Chris Tremain.
And as you can see from the picture, the festivities started fairly early.
The trio, James Gough, Adam Smith and Chris Novak, even got a gig on FoxSports’ coverage of the match, with Gough’s middle-earth like appearance bringing about a ‘hobbit’ reference by former Australian batsman turned commentator Mark Waugh.
On the game’s shortest format, the ODCA’s lower grade Twenty20 competition kicks off tonight at Wade Park when Centrals take on Orange City from 6pm.
The first edition of the lower grade T20 competition was a hit in 2011-12, with Cavaliers defeating Centrals by one wicket, a nail-biting final that included sixes, dropped catches and a back-foot no ball of all things.
Here’s hoping the 2012-13 version will be just as entertaining, but with a little better catching than on display by Centrals pair Mark Hayman and Anthony Salmon (left).
Cricki Leaks’ first game of the round for 2013 will feature Gladstone and City Warriors at Moulder Park.
Gladstone is a big-hitting juggernaut, with Mick Sullivan belting 111 not out in last year’s version of rock and roll cricket.
Luckily for Jason Corby and the Warriors, Ben McApline is on his honeymoon in the USA and won’t be around to slap the bowling to all parts of the ground.
Still, Cricki Leaks has seen kanga cricket kids clear the boundary at Moulder Park so make sure you take your stack hat and gloves if you go down to catch a bit of action, particularly if the Gladstone boys are at the crease.
