Paceman back from health woes and ready for NQ duties Justin perfect time
SUB Parks paceman Justin Dixon has overcome a horror stretch of injury and illness to be chosen in a North Queensland representative side he rates “the strongest for three or four years”.
Dixon missed the Redbacks’ march to another Townsville cricket title last year after badly breaking his thumb in a Queensland Country warm up match in January.
He was later diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome but has made a solid return to bowling with three games in Sub Park’s two wins to begin the season.
Dixon and Norths seamer Sam Collingwood headline a strong bowling attack keen to turn the tables in tournaments in Mackay.
The Twenty20 Bulls Masters will be played on the weekend of November 20, before the 50- over North Queensland Championships against the hosts, Rockhampton and Cairns a fortnight later.
“I got real sick after I broke my thumb, I was off for about a month,” Dixon said. “I’ll have it forever but I can manage it with medication.
“It’s only two games back but I feel pretty good so far.
“I was a bit nervous in the first game with my thumb.
“We haven’t had our strongest ( Townsville) team the last couple of times, but this year we’ve probably got the strongest team we’ve had in three or four years.
“We’ve got a few big hitters like Brad Stout, Herbie Heuir and Mark Taviani.”
Taviani, Dixon’s teammate at Sub Parks, said he had made strong progress so far and was a huge addition to the representative squad.
“He’s only had a couple of games back and he was straight on the money,” Taviani said. “He’s one of the best bowlers in town and has been for a few years.
“We haven’t tasted success in a while but hopefully with this strong squad can have some positive results.” Open rep team: Sam Collingwood, Shaun Curnow, Bradley Stout, Dan Kearney, Herbie Heuir, Justin Dixon, Reece Danaher, Bradley Radford, Jack Raffles, Mark Taviani, Josh De Munari, Zackary Holm.