Sporting all-rounder Duffin set to fan the Fire
Smith to help grade cricket’s renewal
VICTORIA’S loss is Queensland’s gain, with dual-code gun Jess Duffin to beef up the Fire’s Women’s National Cricket League campaign this summer.
Duffin will make her first
While Smith was tight lipped about his first grade hit out in four years with Shane Watson and Steve Waugh’s son Austin against Mosman at Glen McGrath Oval, Waugh said the silver lining of the South Africa scandal was Smith’s return to grade cricket.
Smith turned over his arm in he nets before donning the pads to have a bat. When the session was over he helped his teammates put the covers over the pitch.
Midway through the training session at Caringbah, Smith and Waugh chatted on the hill with Smith listening attentively to batting greats 24 years his senior.
“It’s great for the area, more importantly, it’s fantastic for grade cricket – it’s been neglected for too long,” he said.
“We’re talking about it, people are covering it. There’s going to be people going to watch it. I mean that’s a massive bonus out of what’s happened to the boys in South Africa. They’re back playing grade cricket and it’s raised some awareness as to how important grade cricket is.”
He said his son and all of the Sutherland team were thrilled to have Smith in their side.
“Obviously they’re excited. I mean why wouldn’t you be? Playing with Steve Smith and Shane Watson in grade cricket. It’s a bit like I guess when I was playing shield cricket and Test cricket, you go back to the great club and it’s a really exciting time for younger players,” he said.
“It’s a huge opportunity for them to learn off the best players in the world. Steve Smith averages 60 and in Test cricket Shane Watson’s the only player who’s captained Australia in three forms of cricket.”