Troy Osborne drives for South Tamworth as he waits for his globetrotting football career to rev up in the Phillippines. Photo: Robert Chappel 061012RCE06
WHILE his sister was helping Australia win a Women’s World Twenty20 cricket title in Colombo, Troy Osborne is in a holding pattern, playing cricket in Tamworth and waiting for his football career in the Philippines to take off.
A soccer goalkeeper, Troy Osborne (24) returned to home-town Tamworth recently waiting for his visa to be sorted out to allow him full-time professional access to the national competition in the Philippines, the UFL.
“I’ve signed with the Kaya club,” Osborne said after scoring a handy 18 for his South Tamworth club in Saturday’s opening round of the Tamworth first grade cricket competition.
Unfortunately for Osborne, his side was beaten in a last-over thriller when young North Tamworth allrounder Hamish Batley smacked 12 runs off the first four balls for a three wicket win in the grand final replay at Chaffey Park.
Osborne and Josh Crowe (52) had combined in an opening stand of 62 for the reigning premiers who made 7-184.
The Redbacks replied with 7-185 after skipper Michael Rixon had held the batting together with 53 as well as capturing 3-28 from his seven overs.
It earned Rixon the three points from umpires Mark Mitchell and Phil Rainger in the first grade best and fairest while teammate Leo Steyn, debuting for the Redbacks, picked up the two after he took 3-40 and hit 32 off 55 balls while posting a 73-run second wicket stand with Rixon.
Josh Crowe’s 68-ball 52, which included six fours, earned the allrounder the one point.
Crowe said he felt all right opening.
“I gave enough chances though,” he said at the mid-game break.
“We’ll have to bowl well to win.”
His side did bowl well until 16-year-old Batley’s last-over heroics turned the game on its ear.
Guy Watts was excellent with his spin and will be a great addition for the club this season.
Osborne’s return is also a bonus after South lost Nick Leyden (Melbourne), Alex Jenkins (Newcastle), Jon Stone (retired), Col Smyth (work) and James Psarakis (Dubai) from its grand final side.
Psarakis returns after his Australian Under 16 tour to Sharjah and Dubai but Osborne will be available until January.
“I can play a few games until they get it all sorted out,” he said.
“The best thing about being home is I get to play a few games of cricket.”
Osborne had played the last season with the Chicago Inferno in the Professional Development League in the USA.
That’s the rung under the MLS.
“I’m contracted to Kaya until December 2013,” he said.
“I’ll see what happens with my visa and then see what happens back in the US.
“I had a few offers but I might get picked up by one of the big teams (MLS).”
He laughed about last season’s Inferno time.
“The other two keepers were six foot eight and six nine,” he said.
“I’m six one – on a good day.”
His sister, he said, has been having a great time in Sri Lanka and at the time of this interview had won her way into the final.
“She’s been going well – took three wickets in one game over there,” he said of his 22-year-old sibling.
“She took two wickets the other night,” he said of the semi-final win.
Erin went wicketless in the final but bowled the final over in a game where the Aussies hung on for a four-run win.