AROUND THE WICKET
BBL chit-chat with the Addy’s Alex Oates, Damien Ractliffe and Lachie Young
LACHIE YOUNG: Oatesy, this must be like a second Christmas for you having the Big Bash in Geelong!
ALEX OATES: This is almost better than Christmas. Aaron Finch back in his home town, the Geelong flavour with Tim Ludeman and Brad Hogg and a match for premiership points in GTown! I can’t wait for tonight.
LY: Speaking of Aaron Finch, I’ve heard from a close source that there have been tears in the Oates household on the back of his poor output this season. Are you confident he can turn it around tonight?
AO: You are correct, there’s been plenty of tears. It’s never good to see him fail, but he’ll bounce back. It would be killing him that he hasn’t hit double figures, but watch him bounce back in spectacular fashion in front of his family and friends. DAMIEN RACTLIFFE: The Sixers have really been disappointing, haven’t they? Their batting line-up started to click on Monday night in Perth, yet their bowling attack couldn’t stop the Scorchers juggernaut. I fear they might be in for similar treatment tonight.
AO: I agree. I reckon they can kiss their season goodbye after tonight. Their imports have been disappointing and no one has gone on and made a big score. Danger signs against a strong ‘Gades outfit.
LY: That is true, but in this format anything can happen on any given night. I’ve been told that Gus the Goose has seen the size of the boundaries at GMHBA Stadium and is expecting to have a busy night so I’d avoid going to APCO while the likes of Jordan Silk is batting.
DR: I’ll make a trip between the women’s and men’s game. I’m really looking forward to the precursor, with Ellyse Perry the drawcard in the WBBL match. Hopefully they get a big crowd. What are we thinking?
AO: Perry will bring the fans in the gates early. She can seriously play. But I’m not sure that I agree with Kerry O’Keefe when he said she could play against the men.
LY: Perry is a gun. All young girls, and boys for that matter, should get down and watch her in action. If the crowd is 20,000-25,000 I think that will be a great result
DR: Definitely Lachie. It’s one ground where you actually feel like you’re on the field.
AO: With good weather, we can fill the stadium. If the fans want more BBL in Geelong, they need to get down in big numbers.
LY: Let’s hope they do, Oatesy. It’s great that most of Geelong has adopted the Renegades as its team, and like most of the city, I’ll be on Red tonight. Enjoy your night, guys.
DR: ‘Gades win for me, Cameron White to ton up. Looking forward to it
AO: Finch to bash his way to a ton, Brad Hogg to snare three wickets, Ludey to snatch a stumping and a handful of catches and the Renegades smash the Sixers. See you down there, Geelong.