Bailey gets a chance to spend quality time at the crease

HURRICANES captain George Bailey will be hoping to turn around his horror BBL season with valuable time in the middle in the CTPL today.

Bailey has averaged just 8.8 runs so far in BBL|07 with scores of 25, three, one, 11 and four in the controversial last game against the Heat in Brisbane. He looked seriously out of touch against the Heat, facing seven balls in the back end of the innings.

Today he will bat in the top four for South Hobart-Sandy Bay against University at University Oval in a 50-over Kookaburra Cup fixture, while Simon Milenko will also be in action for the Sharks.

Sharks coach Matt Clark said Bailey would be given the opportunity of time in the middle.

“He will certainly be in the top four,” Clark said. “It is always great to have those guys come back and play when they are available.

“The nature of T20 cricket some of the guys don’t get as much time out in the middle as they would like during these tournaments.

“A lot of them take every opportunity to come back and play a bit of grade cricket knowing they will get a good bowl and get a good hit.”

The two teams will be contesting the John Hampshire Perpetual Trophy, named after the former English Test batsman and umpire who played for Uni and South Hobart as well as representing Tasmania.

The Sharks, chasing their third CTPL flag, are sitting in second spot, just one position ahead of University, which has bounced back strongly from last season’s wooden spoon.

South Hobart-Sandy Bay is also second on the Kookaburra Cup ladder, but above today’s opponents only on net run rate.

Clarence will take its fearsome attack of Riley Meredith and Sam Rainbird that destroyed Kingborough last week to Anzac Park to take on Lindisfarne, while the Knights will look to bounce back against North Hobart at the Twin Ovals.

It is a battle of the cellar dwellers to round off today’s games as Glenorchy hosts New Town at KGV.