BBL final: NSW Premier Cricket’s Justin Avendano’s weird piece of history thanks to Sixers, Stars

If anyone has the right to be confused - or forget a teammates name - it’s this NSW Premier Cricket gun who a few weeks ago was partying with mates when he got a strange call.

Justin Avendano batting in the game between the Sydney Sixers and the Perth Scorchers.

Justin Avendano prizes loyalty above many things so it’s kind of kooky he has created a strange bit of cricket history.

The Central Coast cricketer, who has been with the UTS North Sydney Premier Cricket club for a decade, is having a 2022 that will be hard to forget after going into the New Year without one iota of interest from BBL clubs.

Now, less than four weeks on, he has etched his name in BBL history books as the first man to play for two different teams in the top level competition.

Justin Avendano sending it for the Sixers.

“It was the weirdest few days of my life,” said Avendano, who received an unexpected call from the Melbourne Stars while on a boys trip in the Blue Mountains and 16 hours later was pulling on the jersey for them at the MCG.

“I didn’t know that many of them. I had played against a couple over the years, but it didn’t matter. They virtually had a whole new team but they could not have been nicer and more welcoming.’’

A week later he was called-up to the Sydney Sixers, becoming the first man to play BBL for two clubs in the same season.

Justin Avendano is making his mark in the BBL.

“I didn't have a contract until New Year’s Day. No communication at all from anyone,’’ said Avendano, who is building a home at Wamberal on the NSW Central Coast.

“What is strange is I had no contact with any BBL club for 11 months. I went from nothing to playing for Stars and then the Sixers.’’

It’s a change in circumstances Avendano is keen to embrace, admitting he had earmarked this season as potentially his last to push for a career breakthrough in cricket.

“I’m 28. I still see my game as being in a good place,’’ said Avendano, who played for the Sixers for three ears before being delisted.

“I’ve never had a Blues contract. This year was my last hurrah to say, ‘you have to pick me’. “It’s tough because NSW have a lot of great young cricketers.

“When opportunity comes I’ll try and grab it with both hands.’’

And that included playing for the first time at the SCG when the Sixers beat Adelaide in the preliminary final showdown on Australia Day too book their finals berth against the Perth Scorchers on Friday at Melbourne’s Dockland stadium.

In NSW Premier Cricket Avendano has scored 434 runs in six matches to be third on the batting list.

Western Suburbs’ player Joshua Clark and Northern District’s Scott Rogic are ahead of him on 527 and 457 runs respectively - but have played four more game each.

Avendano also scored 171 in round two, the second highest individual score of the season behind Jarryd Biviano’s 172.

SHOCK BBL DEBUT FOR GREEN SHIELD COACH NICK BERTUS

JANUARY 23: NSW Premier Cricket gun Nick Bertus was expecting to be watching his Sydney Sixers teammate play from the stands as he usually does. Then his world got turned upside down.

It might not have been his greatest moment in cricket but it will be one of the most memorable for Nick Bertus.

The long-serving and popular Parramatta first grade captain and Green Shield coach won’t be forgetting the Sydney Sixers qualifying final match against the Perth Scorchers in a hurry.

In fact he reckons he will never forget it.

A bizarre sequence of events saw Bertus thrust into the limelight just minutes before the game when told he was about to make his BBL debut.

Nick Bertus made his debut after a strange sequence of events.

“I’m pretty laid back but I think there was a bit of shock,’’ said the 28-year-old called in from the player replacement pool following an injury to top order bat Daniel Hughes and the late withdrawal of Jack Edwards.

“It was a strange day,’’ said Bertus, who prior to his debut had only played four first-class and five List A matches for the Blues before losing his contract.

“I wasn’t playing at all. I was hitting some high catches before the game and Hughsy fell backwards over the boundary line and rolled his ankle.

“He was in a fair bit of pain and it looked really bad.

“I wasn’t even dressed. I was in my joggers. Then 10 minutes later I was told I was in.’’

Nick Bertus playing for the NSW Blues back in 2019.

Bertus was bowled by Ashton Agar for four off seven balls.

“We didn’t play very well and I didn’t bat very well so it was a bit disappointing,’’ he said.

“I am still determined to do well. This tiny taste has made me hungrier.

“And I will always remember it for sure.’’

Bertus, a Baulkham Hills junior cricketer, said losing his NSW contract continues to be a major motivator for him in cricket.

“It’s a good team and hard to break into,’’ he said.

“I’m just grateful for an opportunity.’’

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