Door Opens For Hastings To Make Debut
The Age
Friday November 23, 2007
VICTORIA has named exciting batting and bowling prospect John Hastings for his debut today in the day-night Ford Ranger Cup match at the Gabba.
Hastings, recruited from NSW over the winter, completed a solid workout with bat and ball yesterday.At 196 centimetres, and with his muscular frame tipping the scales at 100 kilograms, Hastings has the type of build that would fit in nicely at centre half-forward for an AFL side. Instead, he trundles in at a reasonable pace of around 130 km/h and bats with the kind power reminiscent of Andrew Symonds - only with better top-hand technique.Coming in at No. 8 or 9 in the batting line-up, Victoria hopes he will be an imposing weapon late in an innings.All-rounder Andrew McDonald, who is recovering from shoulder surgery but should be right to bowl again before Christmas, is taking his place in the Victorian side as a dedicated batsman.McDonald said the inclusion of Hastings in the side was an exciting selection for the Bushrangers, who this season had missed a dedicated all-rounder in the absence of both McDonald and Jon Moss, who retired from state cricket at the end of last season."The group's buoyant, we've got another injection of youth in big John Hastings into the side, a fantastic all-rounder from New South Wales," McDonald said yesterday."Losing Jon Moss, we've sort of lacked that all-round ability, so, hopefully, he's going to fill that void and the one-day side is going to be better for that."He's a big strong lad, bangs the ball into the wicket, bowls good yorkers, good change of pace and he's a really good lower-order hitter."He's got a fantastic package, hits the ball really hard."Today's match is the return bout between the two sides after Queensland upset Victoria in last season's Ford Ranger Cup final. ? Tasmania was holding out hope of a miracle Pura Cup victory last night after recovering from another blistering display of fast bowling from NSW spearhead Doug Bollinger.The Blues' left-armer ripped through Tasmania's top order for the second time in two days to claim his first career 10-wicket match haul and leave the Pura Cup champion staring down the barrel of a humiliating innings defeat at the SCG.Bollinger (4-36) took four wickets in two overs to have the Tigers 4-11 after being forced to follow on, 298 runs in arrears.But an unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 130 between Travis Birt (68) and Luke Butterworth (62) has given the visitors hope of mounting what would be the greatest comeback in interstate cricket history.Tasmania ended day three at 4-141. -- With AAP Victorian squad: Cameron White (C), Michael Klinger, Aiden Blizzard, Andrew McDonald, Adam Crosthwaite, Clint McKay, Gerard Denton, Dirk Nannes, John Hastings, Robert Quiney, Brad Hodge, Allan Wise, David Hussey.
© 2007 The Age