Bundaberg cricket enthusiasts can expect a great weekend of entertainment when the Bulls Masters Tour arrives in the region later this month.
Known as one of the the biggest larrakins in Australian cricket history, Merv Hughes has been lined up to entertain at this year’s annual event.
Merv Hughes played 53 Tests for Australia, racking up 212 wickets along the way. He inked himself into Australian sporting folklore by sticking his tongue in Allan Border’s ear and igniting the MCG crowd into a frenzy with his on-field antics.
Bundaberg Region Mayor Jack Dempsey said Merv's participation in this year's Bulls Masters Tour would add further entertainment to the match and captivate the audience at the upcoming sportman's dinner as part of the event.
“This year outstanding former Australian fast bowler big Merv Hughes will hold centre stage,” he said.
”This has become a very anticipated event on the local sporting calendar with the sportsman’s night invariably attracting a bumper crowd to listen to entertaining after-dinner speakers.”
Merv will be the feature guest speaker at this year’s sportsman’s dinner, to be held at the Bundaberg Multiplex on Friday, 28 February.
He’ll be joined on stage by the Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann and world-renowned comedian Paul Martell in what will be a night of entertainment to raise more funds for Bundaberg Cricket.
Bulls Masters chairman Ian Healy said it was refreshing to see the Bundaberg Region get pro-active about improving their facilities and boosting sport for the kids and the locals.
“We’ve raised more than $75,000 over the past two years which has gone back into the community, and that is only possible from the hard work and support from so many people in the Bundaberg area,” he said.
The dinner will be followed by some non-stop action as the Bulls Masters look for revenge on Saturday night at Salter Oval when they take on the Bundaberg Mayor’s Invitational XI, who defeated them in a close match last year.
It levels the series at one-all after the Bulls Masters won the inaugural match in 2018, so there’s plenty on the line in this year’s game.
School and hospital visits part of Bulls Masters Tour
The Bulls Masters will again visit schools and hospitals in the Bundaberg Region and will host a free Kids Super Clinic starting at 5pm before the game on the Saturday.
“Cricket lovers across the Bundaberg Region are excited the Bulls Masters is bringing its own brand of captivating cricket to Salter Oval, the home of this great game locally,” Mayor Dempsey said.
“The opportunities for our residents to enjoy matches of this caliber are all too infrequent and it really is a major boost for the sport locally to have legends of the game – heroes we have only admired via our televisions screens – play a match against our local team.
“The Mayor’s Invitational XI served it up to the Bulls Masters last year so no doubt pride and revenge is clearly on the minds of the visitors.”
Bulls Masters chairman Ian Healy said through the Bulls Masters Country Challenge and the Youth Cup, it was clear cricket in the Wide Bay was improving.
“A lot of that has to do with the initiatives that the Bundaberg Cricket Association has put in place over the past few years, such as the Bundy Big Bash which has such a big following,” he said.
“We’re expecting a tough game against some quality cricketers who we have a lot of respect for, especially after they beat us last season.
“That’s why we’ve bought in some more fire-power such as Cameron Boyce who plays for the Melbourne Renegades and recently retired guns such as Luke Feldman and Nathan Hauritz.”
The Bulls Masters line-up will be:
- Michael Kasprowicz
- Nathan Hauritz
- Jimmy Maher
- Luke Feldman
- Nathan Reardon
- Cameron Boyce
- Ian Healy
- Andrew Symonds
- Darren Lehmann
- Gavin Fitness
- Chris Simpson
- Geoff Foley
Tour info
Friday, 28 February: Sportsman's Dinner
Start: 6pm
Venue: Bundaberg Multiplex, 1 Civic Avenue
Saturday, 29 February: T20 Match at Salter Oval
Start: 7pm
Game:Bulls Masters vs Bundaberg Mayors Invitational X1
Price: $5 Adults / Kids Under 16 Free
Gates open: 12pm
Curtain raiser: 1pm – Norths vs Brothers Div 2 T20 Final
Free kids super clinic: 5pm to 6pm
To find out more visit www.bullsmasters.com.au
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