ANDY Bichel has been revealed as the cricketing legend who will be in Cootamundra today for the Destination NSW Home Ground Cricket Tour.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The former Australian fast bowler will be hosting a bowling workshop for young cricketers and says he hopes to get people excited for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, which begins in Sydney next month.
“It’s great for me to be here and tell my story to these kids and hopefully inspire them to play cricket,” Bichel said.
The tour officially opens in Albert Park at 2pm today, with an array of free features including inflatable bowling nets, a travelling cricket museum, and a video truck showing Australian highlights.
Later in the evening the truck will also have live coverage of the Big Bash League if enough people hang around to see Sydney Thunder take on Brisbane Heat at 7pm.
The start of that match is likely to coincide with the conclusion of Cootamundra’s own twilight T20 match- see inside for our two-page feature on the Bat for Joe exhibition game.
Many locals will likely be looking to get along earlier in the afternoon though for their chance to grab a photo with Andy ‘Bic’ Bichel.
Bichel came up with the likes of Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie and is perhaps best remembered for his contribution to the 2003 World Cup, in which Australia was undefeated.
He starred in Australia’s sixth match, taking 7 for 20 against England, and clinched the result with a 73-run unbeaten partnership with Michael Bevan for the ninth wicket.
Bichel was also instrumental in victory for Australia with the bat and the ball against New Zealand and Sri Lanka respectively in the same series.
The Cricket World Cup action resumes on home soil this February, with Australia and New Zealand sharing hosting duties over the month-long tournament.
The idea of the regional tour - as well as being loads of fun for local cricket fans - is to encourage people to secure their tickets for the Sydney Cricket Ground, which will host five
games including Australia vs Sri Lanka on Sunday March 8, followed by a quarter-final and a semi-final.
The tour has also presented the perfect opportunity for Cootamundra cricketers to do some fundraising for Joe Roberts and his family.
Aside from the T20 match, fundraising will be complemented by raffles and a barbecue.