Memories drive Slog n’ Sweep
Cricket and rugby stars will be turning back the clock for a festival cricket game between stars from two different sports codes.
Palmerston North Boys’ High School is holding “Slog Sweep”, a twenty20 game at Fitzherbert Park this afternoon between former students of rugby and cricket fame. It is based on the Black Clash, a festival match between former New Zealand professional cricket and rugby players. Former Italy rugby international Dean Budd, 36, will be suiting up for team Sweep, the rugby team, and said he was “extremely nervous”. Budd has been back in New Zealand for about 18 months after 10 years playing rugby in Japan and Italy. He played 29 tests for Italy, including three as captain.
“I haven’t played cricket since I was at school and I was terrible back then. When I saw the team list – I think there are about six recently retired Black Caps in there.”
Budd was excited about rubbing shoulders with some old schoolmates and legends of cricket.
He planned on attending a net session today, which may be an important warm-up for some.
‘‘I will go along and throw a few down but I don’t want to waste too many good balls or good shots.’’
Budd played in the third form and fourth form specials
teams when he was at school but said he was a specialist fielder and his game plan was going for a firstball six.
‘‘I didn’t bowl and batted about seven. I think I was in the team for my high-energy fielding and sledging ability.’’
Former New Zealand cricketer Mathew Sinclair, 47, is in the Slog team, the cricket squad. He is still playing club cricket for Napier Old Boys Marist but this game will be the first time he has picked up a bat since last summer.
‘‘I don’t play as much as what I used to be able to play purely because of work and kids and just wanting to give the other guys an opportunity more than anything.
Sinclair has played in two Black Clash games and thought Boys’ High doing its own one was a great concept. ‘‘Call it white-line fever, as soon as the guys get over the line they will take it seriously.’’
Mark Gunning is in the Sweep side and is at the ‘‘older end of the scale’’ but was a member of the New Zealand over-60 team that recently competed at the over-60 World Cup in Australia, where they lost the final to Pakistan.
Team Slog (cricket): Ross Taylor (captain), Mathew Sinclair, Jamie How, Dave Meiring, Ian Sandbrook, Dave Fulton, Dane Cleaver, Robbie Laird, Paul Gibbs, Andrew Murley, Matthew Goodson, David Bovey, Mitch Renwick. Coach: Alec Astle.
Team Sweep (rugby): Craig Clare (captain), Andre Taylor, Dean Budd, Mark Gunning, Tony Falloon, Brett Davis, Roald Badenhorst, Bevan Small, Bryce Grant, Scott Larsen, Jarred Cunningham, Tim Richards. Coach: Dave Syms.