On February 2, Adelaide will face Port Adelaide in a T20 Showdown charity match at Adelaide Oval to raise money for those affected by the bushfires.
The Crows announced their team on Wednesday, led by Adelaide forward Tom Lynch.
Ahead of the clash next weekend, here's a look at each players position, batting style and bowling style along with a comment from Captain Lynch.
READ MORE:
- Crows reveal team for T20 Showdown match
- The small acts of Adelaide's draftees driving high standards
- The injuries that made them: Smith and Doedee
Tom Lynch (Captain)
Position: All-rounder
Batting style: Right hand
Bowling style: Right arm medium
Lynch was highly regarded as a youth cricketer, representing Victoria at junior level as a line and length bowler. He can also damage with the bat, favouring a six over cow corner. Lynch’s father, Andrew, is Cricket Victoria’s Chairman of Selectors.
Captain’s comment:
“Hopefully I’ll bring a level of calmness. We have so many egos in our side, trying to fit them all into a bowling rotation and batting order will be my greatest challenge I reckon.”
Brad Crouch
Position: Batsman
Batting style: Right hand
Bowling: Right Arm Fast
Brad gave up cricket at 14 to concentrate on football, but was a talented all-rounder known for steaming in off the long run up. He was runner-up best and fairest as a junior with the Ballarat Cricket Association’s fourth-grade side, boasting impressive numbers with both bat and ball.
Captain’s comment:
“Brad will play a pivotal role in our side. His brother is a bit slow with the bat, so Brad will be looking to just solely outperform Matt I think. That will be his only worry for the game.”
Matt Crouch
Position: Keeper-batsman
Batting Style: Right Hand
Bowling: Right Arm Medium
Considered by teammates as one of the strongest batsmen in the side, Matt made his A Grade debut for North Ballarat as a 14-year-old, before going on to represent Victoria in the Under 17 National Championships. Matt is the side’s only experienced gloveman, having taken on the role for Melbourne’s first-grade team as a 15-year-old.
Captain’s comment:
“Matt is our best cricketer. The pressure on him is enormous... if he doesn't perform, his mates from back home in Ballarat and in the footy club will have him for dinner every night.”
Darcy Fogarty
Position: All-rounder
Batting Style: Right Hand
Bowling Style: Right Arm Spin
Cutting his teeth at the Lucindale Cricket Club as a junior, Darcy Fogarty is a powerful batsman with a bag full of tricks. Expect fireworks and plenty of crowd catching opportunities when this aggressive middle-order batsman is at the crease.
Captain’s comment:
“Fog is the most energetic indoor cricketer at our club. Whenever there’s an opportunity in between weights or some of our skill stuff, he always has a bat or ball in his hands. Through sheer determination, he’s earned himself into the side. Expect big things from him.”
Paul Seedsman
Position: All-rounder
Batting Style: Right hand
Bowling Style: Right Arm Medium
Seedsman will be looking to make an impression for the Crows in the T20 Bushfire game. Just last month, he smacked a half-century off only 29 balls - including four sixes - in a local Twenty20 competition. He followed it up with the ball, taking 4/18 from four overs and leading his side to a 33-run win in a man-of-the-match performance.
Captain’s comment:
“Before I mentioned Matt as our best cricketer, but Seedo would fight that. He’s obviously a very good cricketer himself so the pressure on him is also high. He will feature prominently with bat and ball, so he might be a roughy for man of the match… hopefully for our sake.”
Rory Sloane
Position: All-rounder
Batting Style: Right Hand
Bowling Style: Right Arm Medium
He may be the least experienced cricketer in the side, but good luck keeping all-rounder and Adelaide Crows Captain Rory Sloane out of this game. Expect Sloane to play his role as a team leader and enthusiastic fielder for the side.
Captain's comment:
“When I mentioned Sloane would be in the side, he said ‘I’ll field third base’. He has no idea with cricket but hopefully with his blonde locks he gets 15,000 here himself. He’ll be an important part of our side I'm sure.”
Brodie Smith
Position: Batsman
Batting style: Right hand
Bowling style: Right-arm slow
Smith hasn't wielded the willow for a while, but in 2008, a 16-year-old Smith steered Grange's C3 team to victory over Concordia OC with a dashing century. Chasing 174, the Dolphins were in strife at 3/9 as Smith strode to the crease. Channelling his inner Mike Hussey, the dashing defender worked well with the tail en route to a career-best 114 in a match-winning performance.
Captain’s comment:
“We’ll say he's one of the greatest Grange Dolphin players of all time. He is also very similar to Seedo, has great ability with bat and ball. He’ll play an important role in our side.”
Taylor Walker
Position: All-rounder
Batting style: Right hand
Bowling style: Right Arm Fast
As the spearhead of the Crows bowling attack, Tex has been terrifying batsmen in the local T20 comp with his right-arm fast deliveries. In his five games for PAOC, he has taken 12 wickets at an incredible average of 7.5, with best figures of 4/17.
Captain’s comment:
“Tex was the last player picked, mainly because he declared himself as chairman of selectors. He hopefully will bowl early in the power play and will probably go for plenty of runs but not enough we can’t chase him down. He’ll talk a fair bit of smack and play a huge role on the day because he’s the Texan.”
