NICK Pearson is confident he can overcome a knee injury to lead both the Northern NSW Emus and Central North Under 21s in major games and carnivals this month.
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The Emus and CN Under 21 skipper “popped” his knee out playing for Bective-East in their final Tamworth first grade game of 2012 against West Tamworth at Dick Edwards Oval.
After retiring to ice and strap his left knee he returned to the crease and “tried to hit from the crease”.
“But that didn’t work very well,” Pearson admitted.
“The knew I was a bit stiff.”
However he’s confident he will be right to lead Bective, the Emus and Central North.
“Should be alright,” he said.
“It’s going okay although it’s still a little sore. It’s the third time its popped out on me.”
The first occasion was in Armidale at a Northern Inland Cricket Council Twenty20 tournament when he was “slog sweeping”.
“I was out for four or five months,” he said.
“Then I played a full season of Oz Tag and it was okay but in the first game of (this) the season it popped out again. I don’t know why it happens but the recovery time is getting less and less. I’m sure it will be right. I’m really looking forward to leading the Emus again. We had an awesome tour (to New Zealand) and it’s going to be interesting to see who they have got and who we might have played against over there.”
Pearson led the Emus on their tour to NZ earlier this year, winning almost every game.
The Kiwis arrive in Australia on Thursday and are scheduled to play a Maitland XI before heading to Singleton (Jan 5), Cessnock (Jan 6), Dungog (Jan 7), Muswellbrook (Jan 8) and Tamworth (Jan 9). The Northern Inland leg starts at Tamworth with games at Gunnedah (Jan 10/11), Tamworth (Jan 12/13) and Armidale (Jan 14/15). “The Emus play the Kiwis in a day nighter in Tamworth on January 12 and then a two-day game in Armidale on January 14/15 before they fly out on the 18th,” said Emus treasurer Terry Psarakis.
“We’re trying to organise another game for them, preferably on the Central Coast on the 16th.
“We’re also hoping Nick will be right with his knee. He’s an important player in the Emus and also as skipper of the Central North Under 21s for the Country Colts Carnival in Wollongong on January 26/27/28.”
EMU COLTS: Nick Pearson capt (Tamworth), Tom Irwin vc (Maitland), Will Howard (Tamworth), Aaron Mahony (Maitland), Michael Rees (North Coast), Ben Neaves (Maitland), Angus McNeil (Muswellbrook), Joe Willman (North Coast), Trent Statham (North Coast), Grant Stewart (Hunter Valley), Ryan McMahon (North Coast), Davis Angus (North Coast).