The Cricket NSW selectors have named a strong squad for the Futures League T20 Baby Bash tournament that takes place in Melbourne between November 28 and December 2.
The side will be led by David Dawson from the University of NSW side. David provides great experience as skipper having played 23 First class, and 10 List ‘A’, matches for Tasmania before moving to Sydney two years ago. Dawson has been in outstanding form with the bat so far this season and is currently the highest run-scorer in First Grade cricket with 481 runs at 68.71.
Dawson is surrounded by some outstanding talent.
Nic Bills will head the pace attack as one of the NSW squad rookies. Bills, who is also part of the Sydney Thunder, made his First class debut last season against Western Australia at the SCG, picking up 2-93 in the first innings.
Fellow rookies Sean Abbott and Adam Zampa will add to the experience of the group, while current Sydney Thunder all-rounder, Tim Armstrong will provide some excellent medium pace bowling and power hitting in the middle order.
Rising star Kurtis Patterson, who made his Bupa Sheffield Shield debut against Western Australia this week, has impressed many with his ability at the top of the batting order. Having already represented the Australian U19 team in India, Patterson sits at number two amongst current First Grade batsmen with an impressive 432 runs, that included back-to-back centuries.
Of the other members of the squad there are some classy performers. Steven Cush from Sutherland has been identified as a player to watch. A left-handed top order bat from the same club that boasts Phil Jaques and Nic Maddinson, Cush has excelled in T20 cricket so far this year and sits 4th in the run scorers list in First grade with an average of 46.62.
He will be backed up at the top of the order by Daniel Hughes from North Sydney who is another left hander, in addition to Randwick-Petersham all-rounder Nathan Price who will offer accurate medium pace bowling and a sensible head in the middle order.
Apart from Bills, the pace bowling will contain Northern District quick Andrew McLean, and Patrick Molinari from the University of NSW. McLean has already represented the NSW 2nd X1, while Molinari offers left-arm pace and swing. Molinari was formerly from Western Australia where he represented the Warriors at 2nd X1 level.
The side will have two quality spinners in Sydney Thunder left-arm tweaker Luke Doran and right-arm leg-spinner Adam Zampa. Doran, has already experienced top level cricket after making his debut for New South Wales in the KFC Big Bash Final last season against South Australia in Adelaide, where he performed well with figures of 4-0-31-0. Zampa is an experienced 2nd X1 and Futures League player, and recently represented Australia in the Hong Kong Sixes.
The full squad is:
David Dawson© (University of NSW)
Sean ABBOTT (Parramatta)
Tim ARMSTRONG (Eastern Suburbs)
Steven CUSH (Sutherland)
Luke DORAN (Fairfield-Liverpool)
Daniel HUGHES (North Sydney)
Andrew McLEAN (Northern District)
Patrick MOLINARI (University of NSW)
Kurtis PATTERSON (St George)
Nathan PRICE (Randwick-Petersham)
Gurinder SANDHU (Fairfield-Liverpool)
Nic BILLS (North Sydney)
Adam ZAMPA (Sutherland)
New South Wales will play six T20 matches over the course of the 5 day Tournament, against other States plus a team from the ACT.
The fixture list is:
Monday, 28 November 2011
New South Wales vs Victoria – Harry Trott Oval 2:00 PM
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Queensland vs New South Wales – Toorak Park 10:00 AM
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
ACT vs New South Wales – Junction Oval 2:00 PM
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
New South Wales vs Western Australia – Mervyn G Hughes Oval 11:00 AM
Thursday, 1 December 2011
New South Wales vs South Australia – Toorak Park 2:00 PM
Friday, 2 December 2011
New South Wales vs Tasmania – Princes Park 1 11:00 AM
