Call to get big crowd behind JLT Cup games
TOWNSVILLE Cricket president Peter Fry has urged local fans to attend next week’s JLT Cup state games in droves to send a message the city deserves more elite cricket content.
Entry is free to all three games at Riverway Oval, starting with tomorrow’s blockbuster between Victoria and Queensland when big hitters Glenn Maxwell and Chris Lynn will go head to head.
The venue will also host Tasmania- Victoria on Wednesday and Queensland- Tasmania next Saturday, with all games starting at 10am.
“To get games we need the local community to get out and support them,” Fry said.
“We’d love to see two or three thousand people turn up on Sunday to watch the game.
“The quantity of crowds they get at Sydney ( JLT Cup) games, it would be far in excess of that.
“They’re the things Cricket Australia look at, whether the community supports it when they’re deciding where to take games.”
Maxwell’s fellow Test reject Peter Handscomb will captain a Victorian squad missing Aaron Finch, Jon Holland and Peter Siddle to national duties.
Victoria have bolstered their batting stocks with the addition of Nic Maddinson, who was axed by NSW just 18 months after playing at Test level.
Maxwell was left perplexed by his latest Test setback after being told there was no need to audition during the recent Australia A tour in India.
But while Test great Ricky Ponting said he would be “ropeable”, Victoria coach Andrew McDonald didn’t expect the mercurial all- rounder to drop his head.
“From past experience, when he has been left out he’s come back into the Victorian environment pretty keen to do well and play for Victoria,” McDonald said.
Paceman James Pattinson is unlikely to feature in the tournament after a setback in his recovery from back surgery but McDonald was excited by the inclusion of teenage trio Will Sutherland, Mackenzie Harvey and Tom O’Connell.
Meanwhile, Brothers take on Sub Parks at Lakeside Park and Wests host Wanderers at Cutheringa Park in today’s A grade fixtures.