The GIANTS have taken on some of Australia’s best cricketers ahead of Friday night’s Big Bash game between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers.
Scorchers captain Simon Katich and veteran spinner Brad Hogg rolled their arms over against Phil Davis, Shane Mumford and Stephen Coniglio in the SCG nets.
The trio enjoy their cricket and Coniglio even represented Western Australia at junior level before deciding to pursue an AFL career.
Katich will join the GIANTS as Player Development Co-ordinator next month following his Big Bash commitments, and says he can’t wait to start in his new role.
“It’s something that I’m really looking forward to. I’ve been around the (GIANTS) group prior to the Big Bash and trained with the boys for about a month and I realised cricketer’s fitness levels are nowhere near as good as AFL boys,” said Katich.
“Despite coming from a different sport, there are still a lot of disciplines and traits that you need in all sport to try and be successful. I’ve had a lot of experience as a captain in cricket, hopefully that experience will hold me in good stead in this new role.
“I’ve loved my cricket career but I thought this was a great opportunity to be involved in a club that’s growing and wanting to have success and it’s exciting to have that journey with them.
"They’re only a couple of years into the competition and to see some of the experienced players come in now in the pre-season and for me to be around the group for a month before the big bash, that was really good for me to get out there and start to learn what the boys go through training wise. They’re extremely professional, and it’s nice to be involved,” he said.
The GIANTS players were also given the unique opportunity to sit in on the Scorchers pre-match meeting.
The meeting was led by Scorchers coach and former Australian opening batsman Justin Langer, and gave the GIANTS players an insight into how professional cricketers prepare for a game.
A number of GIANTS players will be attending Big Bash match on Friday night which can be seen on Network 10.
