BOY, what a week. Old Boys allrounder Aaron Hazlewood completed an amazing few days by helping his club side to the top of the Tamworth first grade premiership and one-day tables as well as as lifting a War Veterans Cup trophy on Sunday and all after helping celebrate younger brother Josh’s brilliant Test debut against India at Brisbane’s Gabba ground.
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“It was a pretty good week for us,” Aaron said after Old Boys had beaten North Tamworth by 45 runs to win Sunday’s War Veterans Cup Final at No 1 Oval.
It had all started so well last week when the Australian selectors named former Old Boy player Josh in the 12 to tackle India in the Second Test at the Gabba.
It got better when the 23-year-old former “Bendy Boy” was named in the team and then handed his “baggy green” Australian cap by Test great Glenn McGrath last Tuesday morning.
The Hazlewood family was elated and proud – dad Trevor admitted to “doing handstands in the grandstand”.
Adding to that excitement was Josh taking 5-68 on debut, one of 16 Australians and emulating such greats as Dennis Lillee.
“It was awesome,” Aaron said.
“We had three days in Brisbane, Josh makes his debut, takes five wickets and also scores 32 not out.”
He also added another two wickets in the second innings to make it seven for the match, Australia wins by four wickets as well and he is confirmed in the side to play the Third Test, the famous Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from Friday.
It doesn’t get much better than that, Aaron said.
However, it did.
He comes home from Brisbane and opens the batting in Saturday’s one-day first grade clash with North Tamworth and scores 31.
He then takes the new ball and claims 3-14 from his seven overs to help steer Old Boys to a 21-run win over North Tamworth in their top of the table clash and leapfrog the Redbacks in both the premiership and one-day standings.
If that’s not good enough, the umpires award him the three points in the Best and Fairest Award, enabling the allrounder to shoot four points clear at the top of that table.
Then to wash it all down on Sunday, he sits back and watches teammates Simon Norvill (159) and Adam Lole (98) put on a third wicket stand of 280 to steer the side to 3-288 in the War Veterans Cup final.
He then takes 1-39 from his nine overs to celebrate his club’s first War Veterans Cup.
“It was a very good week,” he said.
“Norvs and Lolly set it up today.
“Adam Greentree bowled pretty well for them too early on (2-5 off 10) but we win our first WVC. How good’s that.”
Pretty good, Old Boys skipper Ben Middlebrook reckoned.
“I’m really proud of all the boys,” Middlebrook said after Sunday’s victory.
“It’s been a good week for the club, with Josh making his debut.
“We didn’t bat very well Saturday but were much better today.
“Simon and Adam did bat well to put on 280. They did give a few chances early on but once they got going it was great to watch.”
He also added North Tamworth skipper Michael Rixon also batted extremely well for his 98 from 96 balls.
Young spinner Will Chesterfield also came in for some praise.
North Tamworth had started its WVC Final run chase solidly but Chesterfield’s introduction not only dried up the runs but he claimed the wickets of opener Glenn Lewington (21) and batting star Kris Halloran (7), both caught at slip by Lole, and then had Joe Holt well caught by young Chris Coulton.
Chesterfield finished with the fine figures of 3-39 from his 10 overs.
“He did bowl extremely well during those middle overs,” Middlebrook said.
“Will and Aaron also bowled well but all the boys stuck to their job. Made us all proud today.”
