Vic Super Slam: New Twenty20 tournament to launch on Sunday
International stars, Premier Cricket sluggers and proven Big Bash League players — welcome to Victoria’s new Super Slam Twenty20 tournament, which starts Sunday. Check out the Round 1 fixtures.
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International stars, Premier Cricket sluggers and proven Big Bash League players — welcome to Victoria’s new Super Slam Twenty20 tournament.
Players such as Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis (Northcote), Melbourne Renegades English quick Harry Gurney (Monash Tigers), ex-Sri Lankan seamer Nuwan Kulasekara (Casey-South Melbourne) and BBL record holder Craig Simmons (St Kilda) have been locked in for the inaugural Super Slam, which starts on Sunday.
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The 18 Premier clubs will compete for $20,000 in prize money and the opportunity to play on the MCG in the final on January 27.
Each of the finalists will also qualify for the national Twenty20 finals in Adelaide.
“To have so many current and former Big Bash players involved demonstrates the level of competition we can look forward to,” Cricket Victoria premier cricket operations manager Mike Ronchi said.
“This tournament will also act as a talent pathway for future T20 talent across the state.
“We want to continue to broaden our talent pools to establish a pipeline of players that could be considered by the Melbourne Stars or Melbourne Renegades.”
The tournament launches with a carnival of matches at Carlton’s Princes Park, Footscray’s Mervyn Hughes Oval, Glen Waverley’s Central Reserve and Parkdale’s Walter Galt Reserve on Sunday.
St Kilda and Melbourne shape as title contenders after assembling star-studded squads headlined by several members of the Renegades and Stars’ BBL teams.
The Demons’ squad boasts Cameron White, Jackson Coleman, Seb Gotch, Sam Harper, Will Pucovski and Chris Tremain, while the Saints have named Michael Beer, Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Marcus Harris, Jon Merlo and West Indian Rashon Primus.
Former Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers opener Craig Simmons, the record holder for the fastest BBL hundred, will also represent the Saints.
Camberwell Magpies have added two-time BBL leading run scorer Ben Dunk, while Frankston Peninsula will draw on the experience of ex-Test spinner Malinga Bandara.
Greenvale Kangaroos have recruited ex-Victorian quick Ryan Sidebottom and Renegades batsman Beau Webster, Northcote has listed Zimbabwean Solomon Mire and Dandenong has named both Peter Siddle and James Pattinson.
The Roos, Melbourne, Northcote, Fitzroy Doncaster, Essendon, Geelong, Footscray, Melbourne Uni and Carlton will contest the Renegades Conference.
Kingston Hawthorn, Camberwell Magpies, Dandenong, Casey-South Melbourne, Monash Tigers, St Kilda, Frankston Peninsula, Ringwood and Prahran have been grouped in the Stars Conference.
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Essendon coach Mitch Johnstone said he hoped the Super Slam would lead to more Premier players earning opportunities in the BBL.
“It was a bit tokenistic in previous years with three or four games,” Johnstone said.
“Clubs were probably not quite on board with it. This year it’s isolated and an opportunity for guys like James (Seymour) or Brayden Stepien who are probably not really talked about in state cricket circles, to demonstrate their capacity.
“You might have one or two players throw their hat in the ring. It might be (Sunam) Gautam from the Kangaroos as well, who’s always consistent.”
Sunday, November 25
9am
Panthers v True Blues, Central Reserve South
Magpies v Rams, Central Reserve North
Heat v Hawks, Walter Galt Reserve
Blues v Bombers, Princes Park Oval 1
Kangaroos v Lions, Princes Park Oval 2
Demons v Dogs, Mervyn Hughes Oval
12.30pm
Bombers v Dragons, Princes Park Oval 1
Lions v Cats, Princes Park Oval 2
True Blues v Swans, Central Reserve South
Rams v Tigers, Central Reserve North
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