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manager Barry Weare will
be able to maximize their
availability up on the Tablelands
and down to Innisfail
and Tully and south
from there to try and really
make a difference.
Our research shows a solid
spike in junior numbers
when Bulls players have
spent time in country areas
as part of the annual Suncorp
Regional Tour, and we
are hoping for a similar
scenario in the far north.
We are blessed that Cairns,
Townsville, Mackay and
Toowoomba have venues
that the other States are
happy to have matches
programmed at because of
the standard of the facilities
and wicket blocks.
Each region can cope with
a reasonable sized crowd
to help offset some of the
costs of taking these
LEADING THE CHARGE — with GRAHAM DIXON 3
matches outside of Brisbane,
which is an expensive
exercise. Nonetheless,
we’re very lucky to have
had these facilities developed
around the State in
recent years and QC remains
committed to using
them on a regular basis
wherever possible.
The release of the interstate
fixture has coincided
with the resumption of
Bulls training and there
certainly appears to be a
spring in the step of the
players. You obviously expect
to see some keenness
at the start of the season,
but all the signs there are
good.
Following our recent elite
pathways restructure,
hopefully we’ve put in
place all the support networks
that give the players
the best opportunity to
play at the peak of their
skills.
Charger fires up the crowd at
the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.
Since my last column there
have been further developments
with the Twenty20
game at international level,
with the Indian Premier
League looking to have
been a major success, at
least from outside appearances.
Texas billionaire Allen
Stanford is also putting
up some incredible
prizemoney for matches involving
England and his
adopted home of the West
Indies.
I know Cricket Australia
has been to England and
India in the last month researching
and working
across various Twenty20
issues – we have to trust
that they will keep us in
the mix with the issues and
make sure that Australian
cricket is protected within
whatever future developments
may occur.
Lastly, and not insignificantly,
let me reiterate
QC’s commitment to the
retention of the Gabba
wicket block.
The issue of drop-in wickets
has been raised in recent
weeks, but the technology
is simply not good
enough to maintain the
standard of wicket that the
Gabba currently boasts.
We have an obligation to
our players and many
thousands of supporters of
the game to give them the
best conditions possible.
The Gabba prepares our
XXXX GOLD Queensland
Bulls players exceptionally
well for the rigours of international
cricket, and that is
reflected in the high percentage
of players that we
have representing Australia.
Research has shown that
cricket is Australia’s No.1
sport, and we are very conscious
of ensuring that our
wickets and facilities make
for first class viewing for
our patrons both at the
ground and on TV.
The wicket is famous
throughout the cricket
world, making it an asset
for not only our organization,
but also our city and
State.