Tamworth selector and top order batsman Adam Jones had just arrived home from the South Coast with most of his Tamworth teammates after winning SCG Country Cup quarter and semi finals.

After Peter Everett had parked the mini bus and the Tamworth players had disembarked to be met by The Leader and Prime 7 there were a few impromptu footpath interviews.

All were gracious enough to have a chat after a long trip home from the Central Coast where they had spent the night to celebrate the two huge wins.

Jones, particularly, had   much to celebrate.

He’d scored a brilliant century in Sunday’s 47-run win over Lake Illawarra.

The side had been under the pump on the Saturday too, when 6-44 against Albury Wodonga but young wicketkeeper Matt Everett and NSW Country keeper, and Tamworth skipper, Tom Groth “dug us out of a hole”, Jones said.

“Our fielding pretty much won us the game after that,”  Jones said.

“We took our chances. We wanted it more than them.”

But getting back to that grin.

Tamworth will be missing Groth, State Under 17 James Psarakis and Emu Colts NZ tourists Jack McVey and Angus McNeill for that January 12 Country Cup final at the SCG.

As a selector Jones will sift through the various possibilities to replace the talented quartet 

for Tamworth’s fifth Country Cup Final appearance.

“Aaron has been our 13th man for three of those finals,”  Jones said.

“He deserves a spot.”

What about his brother, this journalist asked of Josh Hazlewood who claimed 3-20 in a Big Bash League T20 game on Sunday night.

“That’s where the grin came.

“Be nice,” he glowed.

It would be nice too after one of the Newcastle opponents in a SCG Final imported English Test seamer Graeme Onions into their 

lineup.

Oh and Josh Hazlewood  played in a Cup Final for Tamworth as  a tall young paceman about to start a first class career that has been dogged by injury ever since.

o Tamworth District Cricket Association hopes to take a supporters bus to Sydney for the Sunday, January 12 SCG Country Cup Final. See page 22 for more.