Barrier Reef Big Bash: Six unsung players ready to step up in Thunder-Badgers clash
You know the stars of the Barrier Reef Big Bash, but here are six players capable of playing big roles in this Friday night’s clash between the Thunder and the Badgers.
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You know the stars of the Barrier Reef Big Bash, the guys who make the highlight reel.
But there are a lot of other players who aren’t household names (among Far North cricket fans) who will go a long way in deciding whether their teams will still be there on the last day of the season.
Here are six players capable of playing big roles in this Friday night’s clash between the Twomey Schriber Thunder and the Piccones Badgers at Griffiths Park, and in their team’s finals fortunes moving forward.
They might not be names that are instantly recognisable, but they are players that are worth keeping a close eye on as the Barrier Reef Big Bash plays out this month.
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Ben McCartney (Badgers)
The 21-year-old moved to the Far North from Mackay this year and quickly found a new home at Norths.
The right-arm leg-spinner made quite an impression in the Badgers’ first Barrier Reef Big Bash clash against the Hurricanes, with figures of 1-16 from his four overs.
He took eight wickets in five matches at an average of 15.6 in the 2020-21 Cricket Far North season.
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Aaron Lock (Badgers)
The experienced medium-pace bowler started the Cricket Far North season in rich form and was the leading wicket-taker in the early rounds.
He is also a valuable commodity in the field and is willing to put his body on the line to save a boundary.
Despite not getting the same accolades as some of his Rovers teammates, Lock has played a big role in the side’s successes this season.
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Daniel Freebody (Badgers)
Freebody made the best of what he was given in the Badgers win over the Hurricanes last month.
Coming to the crease at 5/99 in the 17th over, the all-rounder’s quickfire run-a-ball 14 turned out to be crucial.
He will be looking to contribute with the ball, after he didn’t get the opportunity against the Hurricanes.
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Wade Matthews (Thunder)
Will be leading the charge for a potent Thunder pace attack alongside Jordan Fulton and Luke Parnell.
The right-arm quick missed the start of the Cricket Far North season but returned in top form, with 11 wickets in six matches at an average of 9.
He also made a few cheeky cameos with the bat for Mulgrave late in the season, with crucial knocks of 24* not out and 41* not out.
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Andrew Phelps (Thunder)
After missing the 2019-20 season through injury, Phelps returned as one of Cricket Far North’s top batsman this summer.
He finished sixth on the top run-scorers tally with 277 runs in 11 matches, including top scores of 84 and 63.
He will be looking to get the Thunder off to a good start at the top of the order.
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Finn Churchward (Thunder)
The youngster has been touted as the player most likely to attempt a ramp shot in the T20 tournament — and Friday could be the night.
Churchward scored 260 runs in 12 matches this summer, including a high score of 72 against Mulgrave’s premiership-winning bowling attack.
He made his first-grade debut for Rovers as a 15-year-old in the 2019-20 Cricket Far North season.
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WEEKEND DRAW
Friday, March 12
6.30pm: Badgers v Thunder
Saturday, March 13
2.30pm: Dare Devils v Badgers
6.30pm: Hurricanes v Thunder
Sunday, March 14
1pm: Badgers v Hurricanes
4.30pm: Thunder v Dare Devils
All games at Griffiths Park 1.
Originally published as Barrier Reef Big Bash: Six unsung players ready to step up in Thunder-Badgers clash
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