EXCLUSIVE – Star Tasmania Tigers allrounder Tom Andrews: ‘I can’t wait to play for Darwin Eagles’

EXCLUSIVE: He was named the joint Marsh Cup player of the 2021 tournament alongside Australian batting superstar David Warner, and he’s coming up to play for Darwin.

Darwin Eagles product Tom Andrews with fellow Tasmania recruit Tim Ward before the start of the 2020-21 season. Picture: Zak Simmonds

HE was named the joint Marsh Cup player of the 2021 tournament alongside Australian batting superstar David Warner, and he’s coming up to play for Darwin.

Tom Andrews might not yet be a household name himself, but he is quietly moving up in the game of cricket, as he showed with his eight wickets at 29.5 per scalp for Tasmania in the 50-over competition.

The 26-year-old will be available for the Eagles’ T20 match against Nightcliff at Gardens Oval on June 10, and then for the rest of the season.

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“I’m looking forward to coming back up. The last time I played for Darwin would’ve been 2016,” he told the NT News.

“Playing cricket on Saturday and Sunday – with the Cricket365 stuff (with Desert Blaze) – is going to be really good during the off-season.

“I just tried to keep it simple during the one-day competition, and missing out on Sheffield Shield selection helped motivate me.

“I’m keen to play well for Darwin, but it’ll be a couple of months since my last game when I get up there.

“So I’ll have to be patient in the first few weeks.”

Darwin junior and Tasmania allrounder Tom Andrews will return to the Eagles this season in a massive boost for the Larrakeyah-based club. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Andrews is not giving up on his ultimate dream of representing Australia.

“Anyone who plays at this level wants to play for their country,” he said.

“But I’m not thinking about that at the moment. I just want to keep improving with every game I play.

“I’m really happy I moved to Tasmania (from South Australia Redbacks) and playing in all the one-dayers was a reward for that.”

Meanwhile, fellow star Darwin junior Jake Weatherald’s plans to join Andrews in a star-studded Eagles team – also featuring Tasmania allrounder Beau Webster – have been delayed.

Cricket.com.au reported the hard hitting left-handed Redbacks and Adelaide Strikers opener will play for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League after the tournament’s Covid-19 lay-off.

Weatherald will first fly to the United Arab Emirates this week and fills a spot for the Gladiators after the fixture reshuffle brought about gaps in some club rosters.

Weatherald has told Darwin officials he’s still keen to play for the Eagles and is aiming to join them for two-day games from July.

The NT News revealed Weatherald would be returning to play for Darwin this season.