Reardon loving surprise shot back in big time

PLAYING club cricket for Surfers Paradise wasn’t exactly the conventional preparation for a Big Bash League stint but Nathan Reardon now has a foot in the door and is not about to let it slide.

After dropping off the state cricket radar, Reardon pulled the pin on playing in the Queensland premier competit- ion as he funnelled his efforts into his business Outside Edge Adventures.

The 33-year-old instead played a couple of games for the Demons alongside former Bulls teammate Chris Swan, belting an unbeaten 97 against Southport Labrador.

But life was soon breathed back into the two-time Australia representative’s professional career when Hobart came calling. A subsequent deal was announced just 11 days before the start of the competition.

On Wednesday night he was suddenly called up from the bench for his Hurricanes debut after ex-Gold Coaster Simon Milenko copped a finger injury during warm-up.

Reardon didn’t bat or bowl – and was sledged by the crowd for a misfield – but was stoked to be back on the big stage.

The Hurricanes had won five straight before their tight loss to Adelaide and Reardon is ready for more chances as the franchise hunts a maiden BBL premiership.

“If we make the finals of the Big Bash there is going to be an opportunity there for me I think,” Reardon said, with Milenko awaiting X-ray results.

He knows he is only one innings away from securing a contract for next season.

“I’ve always said that I wanted to keep playing Big Bash and this opportunity did pop up,” Reardon said.

“Sometimes it can be a little opportunity like this that extends your career but on the flipside of that, I was pretty comfortable with life outside of cricket before this came along so I’m not putting oodles and oodles of pressure on myself.”

Reardon added he plans to turn out for Surfers Paradise again after the BBL finishes.