Opportunity knocks
Brad McMaster and Sam Purdy are the toast of Lara after being chosen to represent not only Barwon Rockets but also Vic Country under-21s against Metro. They spoke to GCA1 reporter WES CUSWORTH.
WES CUSWORTH: Were you guys confident of an opportunity like this?
BRAD McMASTER: I scored 95 and 85, so I was pretty optimistic of my chances. Although you are ecstatic when you do eventually get the message that you’re picked.
SAM PURDY: It was surprising for me. The selectors must have thought we had some good performances in those two Rockets games.
WC: Was there a noticeable step up in quality?
BM: Playing Rockets you know they’ll have one or two bowlers and probably a couple of bats that can get away from you. In this situation everyone that bowls is a threat to get you out and all the batters can score. When you’re picking from the cream of the crop it gives a side extra depth.
WC: So Brad, being a few years older than Sam have you watched his development as a player with particular interest?
BM: Of course. You want to see the guys around your age do well and move through the ranks with guys that you can have fun with. I get a lot of enjoyment when he’s in the side performing.
WC: There’s lot of pride in the ‘homegrown’ feel of Lara’s first XI.
SP: Yeah, I started back in the 7ths and you get to know the guys pretty well. Now I’m playing at the highest level at Lara it’s good to see that I’m still playing with kids that have done the same.
BM: All throughout my juniors we had strong junior sides and the coaching has always been there. Coming up into seniors, having guys around me like Danny and Andy (Hughes), it helps our progress as players to come up and perform.
WC: Who are the teammates that have taken you under their wing?
BM: It’s hard not to say Andy, being at the other end to him every week. He keeps me in the game, keeps me in check and helps me perform to the best of my ability. Dan Weigl is really helpful, along with Danny Hughes.
SP: Andy was co-coach of under-17s and he helped a lot. In more recent years it’s been mainly Daniel Weigl. I’m learning all the time from him.
WC: I’m sure it makes Lara proud that the two players selected from Rockets are Cats.
BM: It’s a testament to the club and the time that they have put into us that they get us to the level that we can perform. It makes me proud of both the club and town.
SP: It was really good that I was able to do that with someone that I’ll probably play a lot of cricket with.
WC: Knowing you’re the only side that has defeated East Belmont, what impact does that have on your level of self-belief?
SP: I’m still gutted that I left Danny (Hughes) stranded on 99. That game we didn’t have Andy and they didn’t have Sean O’Neill. The teams were on par, I just think it’s a pretty even competition.
BM: We’ve got a batting side that when we are performing on all cylinders we can be as good as any in the competition. Our bowlers have worked out what they need to do to support our batting and do what needs to be done to get us into a good position.
WC: Tomorrow’s chase will be as important as any this season.
BM: We know that if we go out and play our own games that we’ll be able to reach any score put in front of us. We’ve got the guys that score freely enough. If we bat time a score like 212 will be attainable, especially at Lara.