HAWKS SET TO SOAR AHEAD OF RARE MILESTONE
HELENSVALE Pacific Pines batsman Paul Baird insists the Hawks are “not too far off the pace” as they look to mark the veteran’s 100th Kookaburra Cup appearance in style today.
Baird, 50, will become just the third Helensvale player – following Dave Gee (120 games) and Fred Stone (110) – to register a century of first grade games for the club when the Hawks travel to Coomera Hope Island for the first round of two-day fixtures.
After reaching the Kookaburra Cup grand final for the first time last season, the Hawks have recorded just one win in six one-day games in 2018-19 to sit bottom of the ladder.
But Baird was adamant all hope was not lost as they look to rebound from last weekend’s shock loss to Mudgeeraba Nerang.
“We’re a little bit down on confidence now but that can turn around quickly. Hopefully this weekend is a good weekend for it and we can get kickstarted,” Baird, who joined Helensvale in 2007-08 via Melbourne and Auckland, said.
“Dylan Sherriff (coach) is doing a really good job. We’re not too far off the pace, we just need to play a little bit smarter.”
A member of the Hawks side that earned Kookaburra Cup promotion with victory in the 2012-13 second grade final, Baird said a simple love of cricket was to thank for his impending milestone.
“I just love playing cricket so I guess it’s going to come around eventually. I guess with only two others (in the 100-game club) it is a fairly interesting landmark for club cricketers,” he said.
“I’ve got my oldest son (Jack), who’s almost turning 21 and my youngest (Harry), who’s turning 14, so I’d like to spend a bit of time with him but I would also like to have a game of cricket with all three of us.
“I need to keep myself fit and capable of playing but I might find in the next couple of years I slow down a bit.”