New faces Tom Andrews and Tim Ward out of quarantine and eager to impress Tiger teammates

Life as a professional cricketer is a slight sea change for Tigers rookie addition Tim Ward, while new housemate and former Redback Tom Andrews is also feeling at home in Hobart

Tasmanian Tigers latest recruits Tom Andrews and Tim Ward. Picture: Zak Simmonds

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HIGH profile recruit Peter Siddle might be stuck in quarantine but Tasmania’s two other interstate recruits have regained their freedom and are training with their new teammates.

South Australian Tom Andrews and rookie-contracted Tim Ward (NSW), have completed their mandatory two weeks in isolation and have joined the Tigers pre-season program.

Former Test quick Siddle is currently biding his time at an airport hotel after leaving Melbourne last weekend.

Andrews, a spin-bowling all rounder, has immediately felt at home since joining the group.

“Everyone has been really welcoming, even when they found out I was coming across I was getting a lot of messages from the guys here,” he said.

“I started probably a month later than the others, so I’m trying to get myself to where they are at.

“Having the marquee out the back and being able to train outside is pretty cool, and I pretty much got straight into that.”

Ward, who is sharing a house with Andrews in Church St right outside Blundstone Arena — said it has been a whirlwind five weeks since he received the call with an offer to join the Tigers.

The left-handed opener cracked four centuries in Sydney grade cricket last year and is hoping to follow in the steps of Jordan Silk and Charlie Wakim in making the move from NSW to forge a professional career.

“When I got the call it was really late, a couple of weeks before I had to come down, it was a last minute thing.

“Of course I was over the moon at the first cricket contract, it is the dream as a kid. It was all chaotic and a bit of a whirlwind.

“There is a lot of opportunities down here, obviously it is stacked at NSW so to see guys like ‘Silky’ and ‘Chuck’ come down and have success, it does pave the way for guys like me that maybe are on the outer at NSW, that you can come down and pursue the dream as well.

“Going from being a labourer through the week to a professional cricketer is a bit of a change, but you turn up to work every day with a smile on your face.”

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