With just three words on Friday morning Jackson Coote said enough to potentially send shivers down the spine of the Bathurst-Orange Inter-District Cricket competition's batters, although he also sparked thoughts of George Costanza too.
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"I'm back, baby".
Not for good though, so it will only be City Colts who bear the brunt of the former Western Zone and Country Cricket NSW quick's return for Orange City this weekend, he's making a one-off appearance for the Warriors in Saturday's opening day of the sixth round.
"Call me Coote-stanza, it's the summer of Jack," he said, a mischievous grin gleaming from underneath his burnt-toast-brown facial fuzz as he quoted the perennial Seinfeld battler.
I haven't played since last summer and I certainly don't want to do anything but play my role, whatever that happens to be.
- Orange City quick Jackson Coote
Coote moved to Newcastle after helping his Warriors to the last two summers' premierships but he's back for the weekend and although he didn't plan on it, Orange City skipper Ed Morrish did enough to convince him to make a cameo.
"I'm back to pick up some donations Inter Sport has made to an annual charity game I play in," Coote explained, referring to the Line and Length Cup which helps raise awareness and funds for mental health charities.
"Morrish and (Brett) Causer got in my ear and convinced me to have a run. I was planning on playing with (Newcastle giants) Hamilton-Wickham this summer but I just had too much on, weddings and that sort of thing.
"So I haven't played since last summer and I certainly don't want to do anything but play my role, whatever that happens to be. It'll be good fun though, the boys are going along really well and it'll be nice to get back on the field with them."
Although they lost their game before Christmas to Cavaliers and as a result now share the competition lead with the maroons heading into the new year, confidence remains high in the Warriors' camp.
"Speaking to Ed and a couple of the other boys, they said it was simply a case of Cavaliers being better on the day, or in the game. That's cricket, you can't win them all," Coote said.
"They're all pretty motivated to bounce back straight away because that's the most important thing, how you react after you've not been at your best in a game.
"I've seen City Colts have been struggling with injury a bit and they've not won a game, but that probably makes them more dangerous, especially when they've got guys like Josh Toole, Dave Sellers, Wayne Sellers and Matt Stephen in their side."
In another boost for the Warriors, it's just the 2010-11 Orange District Cricket Association player-of-the-year landing this weekend, boom recruit Jaymes Thomas will also make his debut for the club against City Colts.
A former Newcastle and Country Cricket NSW rep, Thomas has linked with Orange City from Raymond Terrace Cricket Club for the remainder of the season, he's also spent time in Stockton and Northern Districts' ranks too.
Thomas took the gloves in the Hunter Hitmen's Cricket NSW Plan B Regional Bash campaign this summer but it remains to be seen if he'll do the same for the Warriors, with regular gloveman Lachie Coyte in the side too.
Saturday will also be his first game back from a torn hamstring, but considering his history it looks as though Thomas will only add to a Warriors side that dominated the opening half of the summer.
"From what the boys have said he looks good and those Newcastle and Maitland competitions are strong, really strong, so he's probably got a bit about him," Coote said.
Orange City host City Colts from 1.30pm at Wade Park while Kinross also face Rugby Union in Orange, at the school's Main Oval.
The competition's three other round six games are all at Bathurst.
CYMS face St Pat's Old Boys at Scots All Saints while Centrals take on Bathurst City at Morse Park 1 and Centennials Bulls host Cavaliers at George Park 1.
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