Western Australia’s Imparja Cup-winning captain Michael Bailey has today been announced as the newest Perth Scorchers signing, joining the club for the 2014-15 KFC Big Bash League on a Community Rookie contract.
Bailey, a Clontarf Foundation mentor, was selected through a series of trials that provided opportunities for players from rural communities, low socio-economic areas and indigenous and non-English speaking backgrounds to showcase their talents in a bid for the single Community Rookie contract.
The 22-year-old becomes a member of the Scorchers squad and will immerse himself in the program following the conclusion of the first block of the Bupa Sheffield Shield early next month.
Bailey will not occupy one of Perth’s 18 roster spots, but will be available for selection as a Local Replacement Player in the event of injury or national selection, as was the case for Solomon Mire, who debuted for the Melbourne Renegades in BBL|03.
More than 20 players from the Perth Bengal Cricket club, Indian Society of WA, the Sub Cup and WA’s Imparja Cup team participated in the trials conducted by WACA and Perth Scorchers Talent ID Officers.
“The decision was not straightforward or easy, with a lot of exciting and promising talent taking part in the trials,” Perth Scorchers Talent Manager Brett Jones said.
“I would like to thank all the players who took time out of their schedules to be part of the process and I congratulate Michael on being awarded this contract.
“Michael has had an outstanding 12 months with both bat and ball at First Grade level and recently represented the WA Futures League team.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Michael to experience the professional environment of the Scorchers and Big Bash League and we look forward to him being a part of the team.”
Almost 40 per cent of WA’s cricket participants come from multicultural, indigenous and all-ability backgrounds and the Community Rookie contracts are designed to reflect those numbers. They are a key element of the BBL’s community engagement strategy and were introduced as part of a wider plan to provide opportunities to players who might not otherwise be identified by one of Australian cricket’s pathway programs.
Bailey is among a burgeoning group of cricketers coming through the West Australian system and was named 2013-14 Lord’s Taverners Indigenous Cricketer of the Year after leading his state to the Imparja Cup title earlier this year.
The 2013-14 WA Rising Star winner has this season been a part of Western Australia’s line-up for both rounds of the national second XI competition, the Toyota Futures League, with scores of 22 and 62 in last week’s clash against ACT.
Bailey joins a squad already rich in cultural backgrounds through players such as Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Yasir Arafat and Michael Carberry.
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
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