QUEANBEYAN Cricket Club first grade vice-captain Dean Solway says the opportunity to one day play in the Big Bash League is one he would jump at, after he represented the ACT in a Twenty20 scouting competition in Sydney the last two Sundays.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Solway was the sole Queanbeyan play picked in the 12-man squad that also included former teammates Blake Dean, Vele Dukoski and Josh Bennett that played in four Twenty20 matches under the eyes of Sydney Thunder BBL selectors.
The Comets lost their opening two matches against Bankstown and Campbelltown on the first Sunday, but came back strong with wins against Penrith and Blacktown last Sunday.
But Solway, 21, revealed his dream of picking up a professional cricket contract, and while he admitted he was still "a fair way off" from that, he said if he held good form in grade cricket he would give himself a chance.
"It's definitely still what I'm striving for," he said.
"My best bet at this stage is to score good grade runs in Canberra this season, and if I get four-day opportunities with the Comets, make the most of that."
The Sydney Twenty20 competition is the first of its kind, and was introduced by the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers BBL franchises this season to give them a larger talent pool to recruit from.
That competition ends on October 28, after which both franchises will offer the best players from their pools, of which the ACT played under the Thunder, supplementary contracts to form reserve grade teams.
From there, players will have the chance to impress for full time contracts in the BBL.
Dean admitted he was a specialist four-day player who did not hit big shots, but he said he had worked with Comets coach Mark Higgs during the off-season to improve his versatility as a batsman.
"I've probably improved my technical skills, but it's just a matter of spending more time at the crease this season and try to get more consistent for runs," he said.
He said with former teammates in Jono Dean and Blake Dean having picked up BBL contracts in the past, he was confident he had the same opportunity.