Bans can help duo: Law
THEY don’t make bats like this anymore.
Portarlington veteran Jamie Hickey’s prized possession is his Gray Nicholls GN Giant and, as he approaches game 300 tomorrow, he can’t remember using anything else.
The 47-year-old former Demons captain, president and premiership winner hopes to continue making runs with his time-honoured weapon of choice for years to come, with only two things that could force him into retirement.
“Continuing playing for me is based on enjoyment only, or if my bat breaks then that’s it — I’m not buying another one, they’re too dear,” Hickey said.
And why would you when you’ve had the same bat for more than 25 years and is stuff of folklore around the club.
“It’s made all the runs I’ve pretty much made,” he said.
“Other people in the club have used it as well, so it’s made a lot more runs than I’ve actually made with it myself.
“I just like the feel of it, (the ball) comes off the bat well.”
The love of the game is still ever present in Hickey’s life, even in his 29th season, with his passion for local cricket based on friendships and family.
He has been involved in multiple Port flags as president and committee member, as well as being a member of the 1997-98 4th XI premiership team as player.
But just don’t ask him about the grand final he lost as captain.
Hickey has been playing senior cricket since he was 15 and no has ambitions of slowing down.
“The longer I still enjoy it, the longer I’ll keep playing … even if that means five or 15 years,” he said. “It gets me away not thinking about work.”
However the BPCA stalwart can’t wait until his Saturday mornings only consist of watching his son, Buckley, carry the Hickey name for Port.
“I’m looking forward to the day when I can just watch him play and not worry about me playing,” he said.
“It’s such a good club to be around and I just want to be around it forever.” STUART Law believes Steve Smith and David Warner will have a better idea of “what life is all about” after playing club cricket as he called for their return to international duty as soon they complete year-long bans.
Australia captain Smith and Warner, his deputy, were given 12-month suspensions from state and international fixtures by Cricket Australia for their roles in a balltampering scandal during a Test match in South Africa in March last year.
Australia has since slipped to fifth in the world Test rankings and suffered a first home series defeat by India.
But the bans did not include club games, with Smith playing for Sutherland against a RandwickPetersham side featuring Warner in a Sydney grade match in September.
“Australia definitely have got the talent, I think we’ve just lost track of what’s important,” said former Australia batsman Law, the new coach of Middlesex.
“I think David Warner and Steve Smith playing club cricket this summer has not only given them an idea of what life is really about, but it’s also helping the young kids they have been playing with now to improve.”