Broadcaster Mark Howard and surprise special guest Joel Selwood to face off in Barwon Heads’ annual T20 clash
Commentator Mark Howard and Joel Selwood will be in action on the cricket field this weekend. And as Howard explains, the match holds a special significance to him.
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Renowned sports broadcaster Mark Howard and a Geelong legend Joel Selwood will take the field on Australia Day as Barwon Heads Football Club and Barwon Heads Cricket Club lock horns in their annual T20 clash.
A C-grade cricketer for Barwon Heads, Howard will represent his local cricket club in the contest at Village Park, while Selwood was officially named as a special guest for the footy club on Friday.
Geelong Cricket Club gun Josh McDonald will be part of Selwood’s side along with Sam Schaller, whose footy allegiances have won out over his cricket ties.
The event kicks off with a women’s game at 3:30pm on Sunday followed by a men’s match starting at 5:30pm, with money going towards the two Barwon Heads sporting clubs. Bendigo Bank — Community Bank Barwon Heads will also donate $1000 to the winner’s charity of choice.
Howard, 51, jumped at the chance to be involved, but while he commentates the Big Bash League for Fox Sports, he doesn’t feel his batting is suited to short-form cricket.
In fact, one opponent delivered this cutting sledge to him last summer: “I thought your commentary was boring mate, but it’s nowhere near as boring as your batting!”
The ‘Howie Games Podcast’ host will be drawing inspiration from Adelaide Strikers leg-spinners Lloyd Pope and Cam Boyce who aren’t afraid to throw the ball up above the eyeline.
“I’m an average leg spinner who takes a long time to make his runs, so why I’ve been selected for the T20 side is hard to fathom,” Howard told this masthead.
“I don’t have the ramp in my range or the reverse scoop – all the under-13 boys do, my son certainly does. I’m strictly through the ‘V’ and hopefully get a few short ones to hit behind square because I don’t have a great deal of power in my game.
“I’ll be well and truly out of my depth playing with the big boys who can really play. But it’s just a great way to promote cricket in the local community.
“It’s a really close community here in Barwon Heads, the cricket club’s a massive part of people’s sporting life and social life.
“So just a bit of fun and the cricket club are trying to raise some money like all sporting clubs do just to keep the doors open.”
One thing is for sure, Howard won’t be wicketkeeping after copping a brutal bail to the face from a Brett Lee delivery during a promotional shoot last month.
“I’ll never go behind the stumps ever again. I’ve still got a pretty significant four stitches scar on my forehead which everyone asks me about,” Howard said.
“The only good thing about it is you don’t meet many blokes that have got a scar as a result of Brett Lee, it’s a badge of honour.
“They’re doing their best to conceal it with make up on the TV, but it’s pretty significant, so you won’t miss it.”
Howard’s appearances for the Seagulls are few and far between his busy broadcast commitments, but he loves being involved whenever he can.
He has played the game for decades since growing up in the small town of Tyers near Traralgon.
However, nothing compares to playing alongside his son Mack – who is known as ‘The Big Penguin’ on The Howie Games — in the seniors.
Mack, who looks up to Test players Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Starc, is currently the top runscorer in the Geelong’s U13 Friday night competition, having seemingly overcome the threat of his sister Skye.
“(Skye) played in year seven and she had an outstanding inswinger that I really rated but couldn’t bat to save herself and gave it away for running, which still hurts me to this day because I think she’s a beautiful bowler. (Mack) used to hate getting out to her when they were having a hit in the nets,” Howard said.
“He is going OK, he seems to get a few runs in juniors and he’s got a few wickets in seniors, which we played a couple of times together this year.
“He took a catch off my bowling which was a major celebration for both me and him. Last year we opened the batting together for about an hour.
“I’ve played a fair bit of cricket over the years and certainly the greatest cricket experience of my life is playing with my son, we both enjoy it immensely.
“We look forward to playing together. It doesn’t happen often enough because I’m away a bit. Once the Big Bash happens, hopefully we play a few more games together.”
Howard implored anyone thinking of giving cricket a crack to head down to Barwon Heads, a place that holds a special significance to him.
“We aim to be a really inclusive cricket club – doesn’t matter your background, your sex, your race etc, so if people want to have a hit of cricket, come down to Barwon Heads because it’s a wonderfully inclusive, friendly community environment,” Howard said.
“I seem to enjoy the training now as much as I enjoy the playing. There’s 40-50 people that you know aged from 13, my sons age, to sort of 55 that are all connected through the game of cricket.
“Any time from a Friday night to a Sunday night, you walk part the local oval at Barwon Heads, there’s someone playing cricket.
“I can easily spend five days at a Test match and be home for two days and wander past and watch the under 13 girls playing or the under 15 boys and get a tremendous amount of joy from just watching cricket at the community level.”
Originally published as Broadcaster Mark Howard and surprise special guest Joel Selwood to face off in Barwon Heads’ annual T20 clash
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