NT touch to state sides Former Territory cricketers win first-class contracts
A NUMBER of elite cricketers with strong links to the Territory were this week handed state contracts ahead of the 2016-17 domestic season.
Former Territory cricketers Brendan Doggett, Marnus Labuschagne, Jonathan Wells, Jordan Silk and Xavier Doherty were all given contracts for the new campaign.
Labuschagne had a twogame stint for Southern Dis- tricts last year before going on to score two Sheffield Shield centuries for Queensland to stake his claim for a full contract.
The 21-year-old scored heavily for Queensland Premier Cricket champions Redlands and fought his back into the Bulls line-up after missing a contract last year.
Labuschagne will be joined on the Bulls list by Imparja Cup product Brendan Doggett, who was named Indigenous Cricketer of the Year earlier this year.
Doggett took six wickets for the week at last year’s Imparja Cup.
Doggett, originally from Toowoomba, played four Toyota Futures League 2nd XI matches for the Queensland Academy of Sport.
Queensland Cricket high performance general manager Brett Jones said he was pleased to secure Doggett and Labuschagne.
“We will, like always, be using Premier Cricket and the 2nd XI competition to ensure the state’s best performers have a pathway to Shield and Matador Cup cricket,’’ Jones said.
Jordan Silk, who made 10 appearances for Southern Districts in 2011, scoring three half-centuries and a ton, was recontracted by Tasmania.
Former Waratahs keeperbatsman Tom Triffitt was delisted by Tasmania from their 2016-17 contract list, while fellow former Tah Doherty stayed on.
Former Tahs batsman Wells has been included in the Western Warriors’ squad.
Wells played nine Darwin and Districts matches for Waratah in 2011, scoring 516 runs at 64.5 including a best of 160.
The Tasmania discard was rewarded for his stellar form at club and Futures League level since moving west during the off-season.
Tom Andrews, Alex Ross, Jake Weatherald and Kane Richardson were all given contracts by South Australia.