Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and West Indies fast-bowling great Courtney Walsh will coach the Ponting XI and Warne XI in the Bushfire Cricket Bash. That will take place on February 8. The bushfire relief cricket match is one of three acts on the cricket’s day of giving ‘The Big Appeal’ as well.
Tendulkar and Walsh will join other former players alongside Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne. They will lead the two sides. Kevin Roberts, Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer said it felt great to have them in the Bushfire Cricket Bash.
Kevin Roberts on Sachin Tendulkar and Courtney Walsh
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“We are absolutely honoured to be welcoming Sachin and Courtney back to Australia, where they both enjoyed a lot of success as players, and we can’t wait to have them involved in what is going to be a special day,” said Kevin Roberts.
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“Both in the ICC Hall of Fame, Sachin is the greatest run-scorer of all time in international cricket, and we all remember what Courtney could do with the ball, taking more than 500 Test wickets. We’re looking forward to our people at CA and the entire Australian cricket family coming together for the Big Appeal,” he further added.
However, the charity match is the curtain-raiser to the Big Bash final on February 8. The venue of the game has not decided yet. Both matches, alongside Australia women’s T20I match against India at Junction Oval, will take place on the same day.
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Many former Australian cricketers have confirmed for the game so far. They are – Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Shane Watson, Alex Blackwell and Michael Clarke. However, former Australia captain Steve Waugh and former Australia women’s cricketer Mel Jones will not play.
They will stay there as a non-playing capacity. Cricket Australia will announce the rest of the players and further details soon. All match profits and funds raised on the same day will go to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.