Clash set to inspire next stars

NORTH Queensland Cricket boss Peter Busch is adamant “it doesn’t get better than this” following the confirmation the Queensland Bulls would bring a Sheffield Shield clash to Townsville next week.

As revealed by the Townsville Bulletin, the Bulls will host Tasmania at Riverway Stadium from October 27-30 in what is the side’s first game in Queensland for the summer.

Busch said the first-class clash was an opportunity to inspire the next generation of young cricketers in the region.

“We will build a lot of activations around the game and hopefully the kids will see their heroes play on the field and then go out and a have a bowl themselves with the help of Queensland Cricket staff,” Busch said. “It should be a mini festival of cricket at Riverway Stadium.”

The North Queensland Cricket president was also excited for the region’s premier facility to play host to the top cricketers in the country including Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Peter Siddle and the blistering pace of Riley Meredith.

The Sheffield Shield clash, along with the Marsh One Day Cup fixture on Monday, November 1, will be free to attend.

“We’re confident the local sporting community in Townsville will get behind the matches,” Queensland Cricket chief executive Terry Svenson said.