Burnett ready to defend Goldfield title ... with a little luck Pigs might fly again
THEY were the surprise packets last summer, but the Burnett Bushpigs believe they will need a bit of luck on their side to defend their title at the 2018 Goldfield Ashes.
The Bushpigs will join around 3000 amateur cricketers at Charters Towers from today as paddocks are turned into pitches for the annual celebration of bats, balls, and cold beers.
The popular Goldfield Ashes, now in its 70th year, will play host to a record 240 teams across five grades and 70 fields, with the Bushpigs to feature in the top A1 division.
The Bushpigs skittled the Townsville- based Wanderers for just 41 to claim an impressive 127- run victory in last year’s grand final, which was also the first time the South Burnett team had made the trip.
Most of those players are back on deck including captain Ashley Sippel, whose 66- run knock was instrumental in their first- up victory, and bowler Dean Krebs, who took four wickets in the final.
All- rounder Jamian Currin said the Bushpigs were always keen to come back and defend their title, but he expected a much tougher weekend now that the other teams have seen what they can do.
“We figured we might have finished third or fourth in our first go and then we’d have real crack at it this year once the boys knew what to expect,” Currin said.
“Last year was a good surprise and now the fellas know what to do, so we’ll see how that goes.
“This year is we’re no longer the hunters, now we’re the hunted so we can’t go in sliding under the radar.
“T20 is one of those games [ where] all you need is one person to tee off or someone to take a screamer of a catch. It takes some luck to win.”
The competition is broken into five divisions – A1 ( T20 games), B1 ( 50 overs), B2 ( 35 overs), Social ( 35 overs), and Ladies ( 35 overs) – with paddocks, school grounds, and ovals turned into makeshift cricket fields.
Rain threatens to spoil some of the on- field action across the three- day carnival but Currin was confident in the Bushpigs.
“Everyone’s playing to win, but at the end of the day we’re there to play some cricket and have fun,” he said.
“When you’re finished you have a laugh with the other team about what happened … it’s a good- natured comp.” skill and some