CRICKET IRELAND v AUSTRALIA:ASH AND willow clashed at Croke Park yesterday as the visiting Australian cricket team and some of their Irish opponents in this Thursday's RSA Challenge encounter tried their hand at hurling under the watchful eye of Kilkenny great DJ Carey.
Fittingly, it took place in the shadow of the Cusack Stand: the founding father of the GAA was a keen cricketer in his younger days and a member of Blackrock College Cricket Club during his time teaching at the south Dublin school in the 1870s.
And who better to offer a tutorial than Carey, although with mixed results. Initially the Australians were more over extra cover than the bar, but the Kilkenny legend soon persuaded a few of them to adopt the hurling grip as they started to find their range.
The big-hitting Cameron White looked the most natural of the visiting team, while former demon fast bowler and present Australian selector Merv Hughes refused to give up until he was clattering over points into the Davin Stand like DJ in his heyday.
Carey admits to being a keen fan of limited overs cricket, even if Test matches are beyond his endurance. The Gowran man was impressed with how quickly the Australians adapted to the camán and sliotar.
“They can certainly adapt, they’re big guys,” he said. “They’re very athletic and the eye-hand coordination is there. They were catching balls way up in the sky. It takes a bit of time obviously, but there’s not a million miles between both sports.”
It was the Australians’ second visit to Croke Park in 24 hours after the squad took in yesterday’s Leinster SFC clash between Dublin and Wexford.
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has followed the International Rules series in the past and enjoyed the experience.
“It was a pretty exciting game. Dublin were outplayed totally in the first half and came back and finished off the game very well in the second half,” said Ponting, before turning his attention to Thursday’s One-Day International at Castle Avenue.
The Tasmanian batsman was the Australia star on his first tour here in 1997; the then 22-year-old made an unbeaten 117 in a 139-run win over Ireland at Eglinton in Derry.
The last meeting between the sides was also a one-sided affair, with the Australians claiming a facile, nine-wicket win in Barbados on their way to winning the 2007 World Cup.
Ponting, though, is well aware of Ireland’s development since that tournament and is looking forward to a competitive contest on his return from a two-month break from the game.
“Ireland will be doing everything they can to serve it up to us and do their best to beat Australia. It’s a great challenge for them.
“For us, we just have to make sure we look after everything we can over the next few days and make sure we play well on Thursday,” he said.
His duties done, Ponting, who is also a low single-figure golfer, was keen to get back in the middle and master yet another stick-and-ball game.
“Excuse me, I’m itching to get back out there and have another go. It wasn’t the best start with the first couple of hits.”
You half expected him to turn to Carey saying, “Here DJ, what’s all the fuss about this sideline cut anyway mate!”
A true Aussie sportsman, always chasing perfection.
