MATT Everett will pad up in Tamworth for the first time since the Bash for Cash when he lines up for the Tamworth Plaster Works Tigers in the replayed first round of the McDonald’s Tamworth Premier League T20 this evening.
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Last week’s starting round was washed out so organisers have had to put it all back a week.
Today the former Bective, Tamworth and Central North keeper/batsman lines up with Tamworth Plaster Works Tigers after making the move to the stronger Newcastle competition this season where he is playing alongside Tamworth veteran and former NSW Country skipper Jeff Cook.
Everett finished his HSC this time last year and has since taken up a parks and gardens apprenticeship with Tamworth Regional Council, where he works under Bective and TPW skipper Adam Jones and commutes to Newcastle on weekends.
Jones is delighted to have Everett back in the fold.
“I was pretty happy to get him first pick,” Jones said.
“He (Everett) has been sensational with the bat in Newcastle so far with a 53 and a 48.
“He also retired in every game of the Super 8’s and his keeping looks after itself.”
Everett’s brother Jake made the move to Jones’s club side Bective this season after leaving South for a year with West last season, and is also in the TPW side.
“Jake really suits T20 cricket and will also be very handy,” Jones added.
“The side has a good balance of bat and ball and youth and experience.”
Jones is excited to play with some of the young stars coming through the ranks at the moment such as Tom Fitzgerald, Lachlan Betts, Lachlan Cook, Jinto Joseph and a few others.
“The best thing about the Premier League is the nominations and draft,” Jones said.
“It gives everyone a chance to play with blokes they have never played with before.
“This season there was a great response with 15 in each side and a spare player pool.”
Jones believes that bowling could be the key to a TPW title.
“Everyone in the team can bowl,” Jones said.
“And Matt (Everett) will stand up to the stumps for every bowler which can make a big difference in T20.”
With the bat, Jones and Everett will be helped out at the top by Fitzgerald, Mackenzie Morrison, Chris Dobson and Keyton Hislop, with a batting roster that, like the bowling, goes right down the list.
That Everett is playing for the Tigers rankles Halpin Hurricanes franchisee Matt Halpin a little as Everett led the Hurricanes last year.
“Matty was our skipper last year,” Halpin said.
“But he’s playing in Newcastle this season and can only play every second week in the T20. So Nick (Pearson) is skipper.
“We also missed Matty in the draft.
“We were fourth pick, again. We missed him but we have Harrison (Kelly).
“We do have a good side and do have Bear (Andrew Stevenson) back as manager for the sixth year too. He’s due for long service.”
Halpin said winning last year’s T20 for the first time after five years of thrashing around was a “huge relief” and he is looking forward to the first round game against Steggles at Dick Edwards Oval.
Steggles is led by Ben Middlebrook, with the likes of fellow first grade skippers Simon Toyer and Michael Rixon making it a strong side.
