The "Bendemeer Bullet", Josh Hazlewood, is spearheading a campaign in which Australia’s cricketers will pump up to $30m into the sport’s grassroots - with the funds to be used to improve playing and training facilities across the nation.
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In money that would have previously been directed to the player payment pool, the unprecedented investment comes as part of the acrimoniously negotiated memorandum of understanding between Cricket Australia and the players association.
“The players are passionate about giving back to the game that has given us so much,” injured Test fast bowler Hazlewood said. “There’s a significant need for investment in grassroots cricket, especially for those communities doing it tough at the moment.”
Cricket Australia said clubs could apply to a central infrastructure fund where the players’ contribution would specifically invest in playing and training facilities such as pitches, ovals, training nets and lighting.
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Regional and rural communities and areas experiencing drought will be able to apply for equipment grants.
In a video announcing the launch of the campaign, published by Cricket Australia on Wednesday, Hazlewood's Bendemeer-based parents, Trevor and Anne, are interviewed in their home. Hazlewood is also filmed in his hometown, with the video shot in late October.
Hazlewood talks about the negative effect drought has had on country cricket and sport in general.
"[The] Grassroots Cricket Fund is very important to kids in these type of areas," he said. "We're [the players] a united front contributing to this fund through the ACA [Australian Cricket Association] and CA [Cricket Australia].
"So it's great to have everyone on the same page, and the players are really proud to put together over $30 million to the Grassroots Cricket Fund."
Hazlewood is filmed watching his former Tamworth club, Old Boys, whom his elder brother Aaron still plays for, as they battle Bective East at Riverside 2.
The Australian vice-captain said: "I'd like to see Old Boys, or wherever we are in Australia … get these grants and really put it towards good use and help out the kids in the area."
Old Boys president Simon Norvill is interviewed at the clash against Bective. He said: "If we don't continue the flow of kids coming in to grade cricket and making their way through the grades, then it [the sport] will slowly start to die and no one wants to see that. So those juniors coming through means cricket stays around in Tamworth."
Anne talks about how Bendemeer comes to a "standstill" when Hazlewood plays. "Everybody knows [when he is playing]," she said, "and it's brought together the community, I guess, and it has inspired children at the school - that [even] from a bush school you can be anything."
Anne describes her son as "really quiet and really shy" as a child. "And so I find it really interesting now that he does media conferences around the world … I would never have picked that," she said.
Tamworth-based John Muller, described in the video as Hazlewood's former coach and mentor, is also interview. "He first started [playing cricket] when he was 12 years of age," Muller said of Hazlewood. "And he was so dedicated and he was so keen."
The video ends with Hazlewood standing beside the new green and gold Bendemeer town sign honouring its most famous son.
