LOUD, PROUD AND READY TO BE THE LAST ONES STANDING
IT’S an interstate cricket trip that doubles as a holiday but with $15,000 and a breakthrough world title on the line, Gold Coast’s “odd bunch” are determined to make the most of their Sydney sojourn.
After two failed attempts at the Last Man Stands World Championships, the Tradies You Can’t Trust team – featuring some of Cricket Gold Coast’s biggest names – will head south today for another shot at glory at the 10-day tournament.
Formed in 2010, Tradies You Can’t Trust are threetime national LSM champions but have been unable to convert that success to the international stage on trips to South Africa (2012) and Barbados (2015).
However, captain Lydon Gibbons, who is joined in the side by Mudgeeraba Nerang teammates Dayne Siede and Rhys Finn and Kookaburra Cup rivals Rhys McCarthy (Burleigh), Mitch McPhee and Travis Harker (Runaway Bay), believes this year could be their chance.
A win would see them become Australia’s first LSM world title winner.
“I’m feeling confident, we’ve got a pretty good side.
This is the best team we’ve taken to the World Championships so if there’s any one we will win, it’s this one,” Gibbons, whose side will fight for $15,000 in prizemoney, said.
“Rhys McCarthy is one of the best batsmen in the (Kookaburra Cup) and Dayne Siede is one of the best allrounders. Travis Harker is a smart guy with an old head.
“We’re like an odd bunch that goes together. I think we psyche out a lot of teams. We’re quite loud and we drink a fair bit so teams take us a bit lighter and we go all right.
“(The trip) is definitely a holiday and we see all the guys (from other teams) once a year so it’s always good to catch up with them. But the tournament itself is pretty serious and it’s getting stronger.”
Underlining the strength of the 36-team tournament, former Test players Marcus North and Neil McKenzie and current England quick Jofra Archer are among those to feature in previous editions.
Each team will play a minimum of five games and Gibbons said his side had learned from their wealth of LSM experience.
“We’ve probably played the game longer than most of the teams at the tournament. A lot of the teams still bowl short balls and stuff like that so we’ve learned how to play a bit smarter,” the 31-year-old batsman said.
“The Tradies team has been around since 2010 and Trav, myself and Jordie (Renau) have played together pretty much from when it started.”