By Casey O'Connor
Who would have even dreamt we would all be in this position when a couple of years ago not a drop of rain could be coaxed from the skies.
It seems the Southern Downs has been awash for weeks and the cancellations are more prolific than competitions at the moment.
However amid the disappointments of missed competitions and sadness all sports lovers, especially cricket fans felt at the shock death of Andrew ‘Roy’Symonds, there have been some bright lights in sport.
Regular readers were treated in last week’s edition to the heartfelt memories our sub editor Tania Phillips shared of the late Andrew Symonds and his former clubmate Matthew Mott.
Andrew Symonds is well-known to most – Mott perhaps not so much.
Mott, himself a skilled cricketer has been one the driving forces behind the success of the Australian women’s Cricket team. He has developed a group of highly skilled individuals into a formidable international team, and that success has not gone unnoticed.
While Mott and his cohorts made the preparations to farewell their mate ‘Roy’ in Townsville this Friday, the news came that Mott is about to be lost to Australian Cricket but hopefully for only a short while.
He has been announced as the new coach of the English men’s white ball team. It is well deserved recognition of a coaching talent that has somehow flown under the radar of the Australian Cricket Board. He is the latest international recruited to the Pommie coaching staff and will join newly appointed English test coach Kiwi, Brendan McCullum.
While it is a great loss to the Australian Women’s team, Mott’s appointment to a senior international role should springboard this talented Aussie Coach to the next level of his career. Believe me when I say there will be no-one cheering louder than our sub editor, Tania who has been singing his praises for some time.
His success as a player and coach has obviously benefited from his experience with at the Australian Cricket Academy with one of the other greats we have lost this year – one Rodney Marsh.
I’m guessing Roy’s mates will be making it quite a party on Friday afternoon in Townsville – celebrating Roy’s life and Matthew Mott’s opportunity, something his Roy would be so very proud of.
Casey
CASEY’S NRL TIPS ROUND 12
Storm; Panthers; Broncos; Warriors; Tigers; Sharks; Bulldogs ; Raiders
