Story Dream To Wear The Baggy Green ? A C2007 Career Story

[Short Leg]

Hussey Cashes In ​

Pura Cup - Game 1
Victoria Bushrangers Vs Western Australia Warriors
The MCG, Melbourne
Sunday 15th October 2006

Sitting back in the dressing room and watching Dave Hussey make 109 in the first game of the season on a flat pitch and quick outfield wasn?t easy as I knew I should have been out there with him. Still 55 on debut without even being named in the starting line-up isn?t to bad and there will be other opportunities to make my maiden ton.

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It's not easy watching a team mate make the most of it after you've failed​

Camo White chipped in with the bat to make 38 and the tail also boosted our 1st innings total. Edmondson ended up with 4 after bowling tight but was let down by his teammates. The West Australian top order will need to make the most of the conditions that are still good for batting.

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Ben Edmondson was the pick of the Warriors​

When the boys came together in the dressing room?s to get ready to bowl we all knew the job wasn?t done as the Warriors have a flat track waiting for them and they ill be keen to get in to stay in after a modest first innings total. With a lead of 91 we have to be favorites to win. Will Slats be given the ball a bit earlier by his skipper this time or does he have faith in his front line bowlers?

Victorian Bushrangers lead by 91 runs

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[Brett_Lee]

Excellent Story Shortleg Keep it up!

 

[Left_Hander]

Chopped on! Unlucky. Well played though!

Hope you get some wickets in second innigns and score some runs!

Great Story,
Left_Hander

 

[Short Leg]

Warm Up Slats​

Pura Cup - Game 1
Victoria Bushrangers Vs Western Australia Warriors
The MCG, Melbourne
Sunday 15th October 2006

With the start of the West Australian second innings coming just 20 minutes after the start of play on day 3 it really is going to require a big score from one of the top order and then the rest of the team can chip in around him. With names like Rogers, North and Goodwin in the Warriors squad this game is far from over. Mick Lewis and Shane ?stickers? Harwood will take up the new ball attack.

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With Harwood claiming the wickets of both the openers the WACA?s were on the back foot but North (44) and Goodwin (51*) soon had something to say about that. With 4wickets in the bag and 56 overs into the 2nd innings Cam White looked to me from 1st slip and said, ?Get loose Slats. Im brining you on soon.? What will this innings hold for Slats? A first class wicket or two would be nice.

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Murray Goodwin may not be Australian but he can bat abit​

Western Warriors 4/157
Day 3 ? 3:24pm
56 overs

Goodwin 51(141)*
Bandy 11(29)*

Lewis 0/30
Harwood 2/41
Wise 1/39
White 0/22
Moss 1/18

 

[Wildwil]

Unlucky chopped on. Good luck with the ball.

 

[Short Leg]

Thanks for the sympathy boys not the greatest way to get out on a flat pitch

 

[Short Leg]

Have A Spell​

Pura Cup - Game 1
Victoria Bushrangers Vs Western Australia Warriors
The MCG, Melbourne
Sunday 15th October 2006

Whitey had brought me on with the Warriors still having a chance and a dangerous Murray Goodwin at the crease I knew that my first class scalp had to come soon or the ball isn?t going to be handed to me to often in the future.

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Slatter is given the ball for his second first class spell​

?Remember mate keep it simple and we'll see if you can pick up for first wicket? where the words Camo offered to me before I came in for my second spell in first class cricket. The outfield has slowed down a bit since the first few days but the pitch was still flat. It?s times like this that make you realise it?s a good thing im not a full time bowler so I don?t have to put up with these flat tracks so often.

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The skipper motivates the team​

With 2 solid overs under the belt I was beginning to feel good about my chances of a first class wicket and the boys had nothing but encouragement for me. Although with Murray Goodwin in such good form you can never be sure and let?s not forget Bandy up the other end doing his bit to turn the strike over.

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After two overs to forget about the talk amongst the team had dropped and Murray Goodwin?s confidence had sky rocketed as he cut and drove with ease thought the off side making my bowlegs look like the quality of bowling you would find in 3rd grade park cricket. After the conclusion of my 4th over in this spell Whitey approached me and said ?It?s just not your pitch Slats we?ll see how you go another day? which really means ?Your bowling crap and we have to get someone else on before they get away from us?.

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Wise, Harwood and White all took 3 wickets​

Straight after I had been removed from the attack and Stickers Harwood replaced me we sore the back of Goodwin for 75 having been trapped LBW by the seaming ball. He was followed by Bandy and then the rest of the line-up including Casson and Inness for golden ducks and before they knew it the Warriors was all out with a lead of 156. 40 minutes left in today?s play means that there is over 100 overs to play in this match and we really should cruise home probably even without me having to bat again.

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Having taken apart a strong batting line-up and piled on the runs we can now really believe that the Bushrangers are a top favorite to take out the Pura cup although NSW might have something to say about that.

Victorian Bushrangers Require 156 Runs To Win

 

[Short Leg]

Small Run Chase Turn?s Ugly ​

Pura Cup - Game 1
Victoria Bushrangers Vs Western Australia Warriors
The MCG, Melbourne
Sunday 15th October 2006

Sitting back in the dressing room whilst a small run chase falls apart is one of the worst feelings in cricket. Your attitude switches from ?We?re going to cruise home and I wont have to bat? to a mad dash around the rooms looking for your bat and pads and then trying to pull yourself together to actually bat.

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Gear is all over the place as no one expected to bat​

It all started in the last 40 minutes of day 3 when Mick Klinger got out early so Whitey sent in the night watchman Allan Wise against my suggestion but hey what do I know. And then with the team in disarray Jon Moss edged one behind with minutes left in the day. Jason Arnberger contributed to the top order collapse with 14 as he was castled by Dorey in the final over of play. Hodge and Hussey finished off a nightmare of day 3.

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Our boys watch on as the top order collapses​

As the next man in with the score at 4/29 I was?.what?s the word?shitting myself. The game was supposed to be all but over and we had fallen apart thanks to some inspirational new ball bowling from Dorey and former Victorian Inness. Luckily for me Hodgey showed the Australian selectors that he loves a challenge and together with first innings centurion Dave Hussey they put together a match saving partnership of 117 before Hodgey got out leaving me with 6 runs to get to start the season off with a win.

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The two men that saved the game for Victoria​

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Slatter already with an impressive average​

Hus was all business and actually said nothing to me when I went out to bat and within 10 minutes we had cleaned up the runs and had the win. Later on skipper Cameron White was named man of the match and rightly so as he contributed 7 wickets and 38 to the first innings total. Our next game is an ING cup fixture against the Warriors, which will make an interesting contest as the WACA?s have always been strong in the shorter form of the game.

Victorian Bushrangers Win By 5 Wickets

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[Wildwil]

Great win there.

 

[Left_Hander]

Finding it hard to get wickets. Don't worry. A not out score was nice in the second innings.

Keep it up,
Left_Hander

 

[gary0808]

Can someone tell me the pointsd system for the PURA CUP

 

[Short Leg]

At The Junction​

Tuesday Training
24th October 2006
5:30pm

Back at the Junction oval again for training before the flight leaves for the WACA on the 28th. I light session follows our win against the Warriors but we are taking nothing lightly so early in the season. My 55 and unbeaten 7 has me in a good position with the team and selectors.

Chairman of selectors Michael O'Sullivan and Merv Hughes took the time to watch us train in the nets and held me in high enough regards to have a chat.

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Congratulations on your first match Slats but there is still a long road ahead of you. I haven?t seen to many young talents like you I the domestic ranks in a while and I?ve seen a lot of Pura cup cricket. Keep working hard at training and there is no limit to what you can achieve in the future.

Receiving such a wrap from a former Australian cricketer is a defining moment in a young cricketers career and the word must have spread quickly because I was soon faced with a few microphones on the way home from training. Some might say that im not the greatest at facing the media and still have a lot to learn they may just be right.

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Media: Slats what was it like to score your maiden half century on debut

Slatter: Ah?..um yeah it was **** hot

Media: What did Cameron White say to you when he handed you the ball

Slatter: Um he just said good luck and um keep it simple I guess

Media: How far can you go in your cricketing career

Slatter: I?d like to think I could go all the way otherwise I?d just go on the dole

Media: What did your teachers think of you in school

Slatter: ???..I reckon they thought I was a barrel of laughs

Media: Slatsy you don?t seem to be bowling well at the moment what?s going to be your solution for the next match

Slatter: I don?t think I was bo? (Interrupted)

Media: What do you have to say about Nick Jewell?s accident before the game?

Slatter: Ah yeah it couldn?t of happened to a nicer bloke I guess

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At this point Greg Shipperd stepped in and stopped the media from bombarding me with questions and gave me a ride home. On the way he told me ?Don?t worry about them Slats they?ll do anything for a story. You just worry about your cricket on the field and you wont have any trouble with the media.?

 

[Short Leg]

Can someone tell me the pointsd system for the PURA CUP

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[gary0808]

Thanks

 

[Left_Hander]

I liked the radio interview with a picture of your face stuck on.

Keep it up,
Left_Hander