AIS cricket squad named for Emerging Players Tournament

AIS cricketer in action

01 Jul 2009

An Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) cricket team has been named for the Emerging Players Tournament (EPT) in Queensland, starting on 20 July.

The 17-man AIS squad will be looking to win the title for the first time against teams from India, New Zealand and South Africa in Twenty20 and 50-over matches.

The Indian Karnataka state cricket team won the inaugural EPT in 2005, while South Africa won in 2006 and 2007, and New Zealand won last year.

AIS team coach Greg Chappell highlighted the fantastic work the AIS scholarship program is doing, along with state-based programs, to develop players for international representation and said he was very happy with this year’s squad for the tournament.

‘We’re really pleased with the squad we have and are looking forward to seeing how players put all the work they have been doing over the past weeks into the tournament,’ Chappell said

‘The squad has a good blend of experience with players like Quiney, Smith, Cooper, Wade, Forrest, Henriques, Duval, Mangan, George, Wade and Holland, plus emerging young players such as Triffitt, McDermott, Faulkner, and Mitchell Marsh from the Australian under-19 squad.’

The AIS squad will again include two MRF Pace Foundation players for the tournament and Chappell said that it was excellent that this relationship with the Indian academy was so strong.

‘In addition to our 2009 AIS scholars we also have past scholars Matthew Wade and Peter Forrest, who will be joined by two players from the MRF Pace Foundation who will play with the AIS which will provide an excellent opportunity for them to play in this competition that is evolving year on year,’ he said.

‘I believe it is a really talented group that will benefit greatly from playing in this series against quality competition. Tournaments such as the EPT are an important part of the ongoing development of our most talented players.’

Some of the players who have tasted international cricket and competed in the Emerging Players Tournament since 2005 are; Adam Voges, Ben Hilfenhaus, Luke Ronchi, Shaun Marsh, Callum Ferguson (Australia), Jacob Oram, Shane Bond, Hamish Marshall, Mark Gillespie, Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton, Michael Papps (New Zealand), Neil McKenzie, Robin Peterson (South Africa) and Robin Uthappa (India).

Chappell’s coaching staff for the Emerging Players Tournament will consist of Cricket Australia Centre of Excellence-based coaches Brian McFadyen, David Fitzgerald and John Davison.