An all-star team of Australian cricketers will descend upon Margaret River next month as the Margaret River Hawks Cricket Club hosts the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) Masters team in an exciting T20 match.
The event will see Gloucester Park transformed into cricket central, with several events, cricket clinics and chances to catch the sporting legends in action across the last weekend in October.
The Hawks’ Michael Earl said a team of local players would be formed to take on the cricketing greats.
“The team will be made up of club members from the Margaret River and Busselton region.”
Mr Earl said club members and fans will have the opportunity to meet cricket legends during a Sportsman’s Night function as part of the tour.
“Scholarships will also be announced for young local cricketers as part of the event and our local clubs will benefit from a number of fundraising opportunities during the tour.
The ACA will begin revealing the big name cricketers bound for the South West over the next few weeks, and have begun by naming four of the players preparing to take on the Hawks T20 team.
Tom Moody, the WA all rounder with over 21,000 first class runs to his name, will be a major draw card for the older generations.
Standing at 6ft 6in, and playing tests and one day internationals for Australia, Moody is an imposing figure on and off the field. He will be joined by another Western Australian legend in Jo Angel; this quick bowler will be keen to take a few wickets early in the match.
Angel took over 480 first class wickets, and starred for WA while also playing test and one day cricket for Australia.
Born in Merredin, Tom Hogan is a slow left arm orthodox bowler who played 23 tests and one day matches for Australia.
The youngest of the named players is Travis Birt. The big hitting left hander, who played big bash cricket as recently as January 2015, enjoys blasting sides and will be a handful for the local bowlers.
The crowd could be in for some catches when the 34 year old Birt is batting, especially from the southern end.
Augusta Margaret River Shire president Ian Earl said the event would bring a number of benefits to the region including fundraising opportunities for local clubs as well as increased traffic for local businesses.
“It will be a day of entertainment for many members of our community to enjoy,” Mr Earl said.
Tickets and a full event programme will be released soon, and members of the public can keep up to date with team announcements, events and ticketing details via www.facebook.com/margaretriverhawkscricketclub
