Ex-international plays in localfourth XI

Cricket

By LIAM DURKIN

NEXTtimesomeone complains about playingC Grade, just tell them even an Australian cricketer played below that level oneday.

An interesting name appeared on theteamsheet for the Bundalaguah Yaks fourth grade teamin the Sale-MaffraCricket AssociationlastSaturday -none other than Travis Birt.

Birt, who played ahandful of twenty20 internationals for Australia in the early 2010s, suited up in aspecial appearance for his home club.

After being unable to attend the funeral of late legendary Bundalaguah Cricket Club stalwart Neil Wrigglesworth afortnight ago, Birt returned home to play amatch in honour of the great man’s legacy.

The 41-year-old took to the field alongside Neil’s son Greg, and granddaughter Megen Wrigglesworth, who also captained the side.

Call it fortuitous timing, but Birt was only able to play fourthsasall other senior grades were into thesecondday of matches. (In the SMCA, firsts, seconds and thirds all play two-dayers).

Taking to the College Astro,the Yaks (Bundalaguah has two fourth grade teams, the Yaks and the Bulls) batted first after winning the toss against Collegians.

The visitorscompiled 7/205 from their allotted 40 overs. Atight finish ensued, with College getting within17runsofthe target before being bowled out.

While the astro wicket at College was surely a drasticchange from the MCG, Birt played his part in the victory, scoring 32 off 26 balls, and taking three catches in the field.

For the sake of fair play, Birt didn’t shamelessly whack fourth gradersout of the park, although two balls did clear the fence.

He spent the best part of 10 overs out in the middle, just rotating the strike with the occasional boundary (four in total).

The person who hadthe distinction of taking his wicketwas Will Foster, ayoung kidstill in the Under 14s.

Surely he will be telling all thekidsatschool about that. Maybe even the grandkids in 60 years from now.

Although thesight of an Australianplayer in the fourthsmight have evokedsome criticism, what athrill it must havebeen for thoseinthe Bundalaguah camp to play alongside aplayer of Birt’s calibre.

Regardlessofthe result,juniorplayers on either side were also given possibly the best batting lesson in terms of demonstration they could ever have asked for.

As well as four international twenty20s, Birt played 88 firstclass matches and 109 domestic twenty20s during his professional career, mainly for Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes.

He maintained an incredible strikerateof129 in first class twenty20s, and secured areputation for brutal strokeplay when he posted 145 against South Australia in 2004/05, which was the highest score in Tasmania’s one-day history.

Duringhis career he played withthe likesof Brett Lee, Michael Clarke and David Warner, and against players such as Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag and Andrew Flintoff.

His last match forBundalaguah was in 2017, where he duly made afirst grade century.