His side was on the end of a pretty decent thumping in game one and a close loss in game two thanks to Nizakat Khan’s heroics, but Hong Kong’s Chris Carter says Sunday’s twin Twenty20 games with the Sydney Thunder were something to savour.
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Admitting to nerves playing against some of his childhood heroes, namely England captain Eoin Morgan, Carter says games like these are a learning experience for the Hong Kong outfit.
“It’s quite a long drive from Sydney, tough after a long flight, but it’s awesome to be here to play against the Thunder, something we really are thankful for,” Carter said.
“Unfortunately as an associate nation we don’t get to play against too many big teams, and when we do we savour it.
“The first game showed we are capable, and the second game showed we’ll give it a good push.”
Carter said the difference in quality between the two sides was obvious, with effort in the field being a big factor between his side eventually chasing 201, and not something in the realms of chase-able.
“We want to mold ourselves into sides like the Thunder,” he said.
“Fielding is a big part of that.”
And they’re serious about that.
Contracted, the Hong Kong players spend the bulk of the year together as a group in a bid to improve their cricket.
After hosting Papua New Guinea, the side has toured Kenya and now Australia, before flying off to the United Arab Emirates later this summer.
A vastly multicultural squad, Carter said nigh on all of the players are still Hong Kong products.
“We might not all look Chinese, but a lot of the players have come through the ranks at Hong Kong ... we’re subjects of the Hong Kong cricket system,” he said.
And the only way to get better? Play more teams like the Sydney Thunder, on a regular basis.
“We’ll develop our cricket playing against top teams. This is a good contest and a chance for the boys to shine,” Carter added.
“For myself, I’d love to turn back time and not run myself out, but that’s cricket.
“I was nervous. These are a few of my childhood heroes out there. It’s an awesome thing to be able to play against them.” The young star said Wade Park was up there with one of the best grounds he’d played on.