WHEN I first heard that news at the start of the season that talented Queanbeyan cricketer Michael Spaseski had left the Bluebags for pastures new, one word came to mind. Traitor. Yes I know that sounds harsh.
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I likened the feeling to when Robin Van Persie left my beloved Arsenal to go and play for Manchester United at the end of last year. The difference being, Arsenal don’t win anything while Queanbeyan was on fire last season.
Following a total clean sweep of all the prizes on offer in 2011/12, you would think that Freebody Oval would have remained Spags’ home ground. But when I spoke to man himself, it became clear why he made the move to South Canberra.
The main question I had for Michael was why he would decide to leave the club after such a successful spell for Queanbeyan cricket.
“The year that we had last year was absolutely unheard of to be honest” Spaseski told me.
“To win all four trophies in the manner that we did was a great achievement. I just felt that after seven successful years at the club, a change was the right move for me and a fresh challenge would continue to get the best out of me.
“Being surrounded by so many great players taught me so much and by making the move it’s given me the opportunity to take on some more responsibility and develop into a leadership role.”
After completing his move to Eastlake, Spaseski has continued the good form this year that led to him debuting for the Canberra Comets in the Futures League last season.
It didn’t take long for him to establish himself in the representative team and recently he scored his second century for the Comets to cement his place in the team.
His impressive efforts with bat and ball have also put him on the radar for state selection.
Spags also harbours ambitions to play for NSW one day and even follow in the footsteps of his former skipper Mark Higgs and star in the razzle dazzle of the Big Bash league.
“Like any cricketer I’d love to continue to improve and if the opportunity presents itself to play at State level then I’ll jump at it with both hands” Spaseski grinned.
“Higgsy deserved his shot in the Bash and if I keep applying myself then anything is possible.”
So after talking to Spags and getting his version of events I’ll happily retract my harsh appraisal and wish him all the best for the future.
But while a state call up would be the next step in Spaseski’s career, the way the Australian team is chopping and changing these days, a few good performances might have him on the radar to make his international debut instead.
All jokes aside, the current Australian rotation policy is an absolute joke.
Blokes are getting a run for two games and then being dropped again if they don’t score a hundred or take five wickets. It makes no sense to me.
Imagine Pigeon McGrath or Gilly being told that that they had to rest so that they didn’t burn out. A pig would have flown out of the dressing room before that happened.
Stephen Peios is a weekly contributor to the Sports Drive, broadcast on Friday afternoons on QbnFM from 5-7pm.