CRICKET’S FUSION AIM TO RIGHT PAST WRONGS IN REP FIXTURES

REDEMPTION starts tonight for the Cricket Far North Fusion Twenty20 side in the battle to represent the region at the home of cricket in Queensland.

Players from across the state head to Mackay today for the Bulls Masters Country Challenge being played over three days.

Fusion players left the Gabba with their tails between their legs after a pasting in the tournament final against Townsville in December, 2015, and captain Michael Salerno said making up for it was a major motivation.

“It’s a really good opportunity for the boys coming off last year. We got to the Gabba which was good, but we think we can do better,” Salerno said.

Only wicketkeeper Paul Carbone and paceman Kyll Wright are new to the rep scene, part of an experienced squad full of in-form talent and several all-rounders.

Atherton leg-spinner Dan Parnell took five wickets in the latest first grade round while Anton Booy notched 79 off 28 balls in the T20s for Norths.

“We’re definitely not short on all-rounders,” Salerno said. “It just seems to be the way the game is going these days. You need to bat and bowl well.

“A lot of the boys have been around the group a while and we’ve been quite successful.”

Salerno said his side should be thinking finals, where he expected to face the might of Gold Coast or Townsville in a bid to qualify for a curtain raiser to the Brisbane Heat.

Carbone said it would be a dream come true to play a big game at the Gabba.

“It would be amazing to play there. I’ve never played at a big ground like that,” he said.

Carbone has been chosen to don the wicketkeeping gloves despite 12 months out of the role and said he might by a tad rusty.

“I had a year off keeping last year and did a little bit of bowling and I missed it, so I was keen to get back into it this year,” he said.

“I’ve been trying to do a lot of work at training on it, but you can do as much as you can at training but it all comes down to the game.

“We got heaps of good bowlers, so it leaves Mick with a lot of options.”

Picture: Josh Woning UP FOR IT: Far North Fusion keeper Paul Carbone, of Redlynch, and captain Michael Salerno, of Kanimbla, shape up for the Country Challenge.