Premier Cricket: Parramatta captain Nick Bertus out to make point, NSW Blues squad
Big-hitter Nick Bertus has special motivation as he uses Premier Cricket to prove a point after being dropped from the NSW Blues squad.
Parramatta
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Parramatta captain Nick Bertus doesn’t need to look far to find motivation when he heads out to the pitch in Premier Cricket this summer.
Firstly there is the absence of his father and mother watching from the sidelines and then there’s the sting of being dropped from the NSW Blues late last year.
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Bertus’ father Nigel, a passionate cricket fan, lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease and mother Merryn in January was hit and killed by a car outside a Parramatta service station.
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“Dad was a big volunteer at Parramatta, he came to all the games. Mum came with him and she also helped around the club,” Bertus said.
“I want to do well for her and him. I want to do well for them.
“It’s a bit weird not having them at the games. It’s definitely motivating for me. They put a lot of time into my cricket. I can’t remember dad missing a game.”
I’m 27 and still hopeful of getting back in the mix. We have to impress. There’s a lot of people watching given there’s no other cricket in Australia
Also pushing him to perform is being dropped from the NSW outfit last year.
“I’m determined to get back in. A big reason for me doing well is to get back and prove people wrong. It’s motivating. There is no secret about it,’’ he said.
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Bertus showed his intent when he opened the Premier Cricket season with his 15th century, going past 6000 first grade runs in the process.
Bertus scored 144 against Sutherland at Glenn McGrath Oval in round one to take his Premier Cricket runs tally to 6087 at 40.04.
“I’m 27 and still hopeful of getting back in the mix,” said Bertus, who lives at Northmead.
“We have to impress. There’s a lot of people watching given there’s no other cricket in Australia.”
Bertus had planned to go to South Australia this summer but has stayed in Sydney to take up a job with Cricket NSW as their assistant pathways coach.
“The job opportunity popped up. It made more sens to stay here. You want to be with family,” he said.
“I love playing for my club and the job opportunity was good.”