The local region might be ready to explode due to the excitement around the impending visit from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but it was cricketing royalty which took centre stage at Narromine on Tuesday afternoon.
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Australian cricket legend Glenn McGrath returned to his home town to launch the 2019 Pink Stumps Day at Dundas Oval.
While his return created plenty of excitement, cricket fans unfortunately won’t be able to see the champion fast bowler in action at Dubbo’s No. 1 Oval on Friday night.
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He was meant to be one of the marquee players to feature in the SCG XI versus Dubbo District Cricket Association XI Twenty20 match at Dubbo on Friday night, however, injury has put an end to that plan.
“Unfortunately I’m not playing because of a bit of a dodgy knee but I will be at the match all day and wandering around meeting people and having a chat. There’s a luncheon and a few other things so there's still a fair bit happening.” he said, before joking about the chance of rain.
“We're here to raise money for drought relief and it will be nice if the game gets washed out. But fingers crossed there’s plenty of rain coming and we can raise quite a bit of money.”
The concern is a knee injury which McGrath put down to “getting old” rather than it being something he has carried for many years.
Fingers crossed there’s plenty of rain coming and we can raise quite a bit of money.
- Glenn McGrath
“My wife and I thought it would be good doing the New York marathon raising money for the foundation but it hasn't pulled up 100 per cent after that so its just managing it,” he said.
While Pink Stumps Day was one of the major topics of conversation on Tuesday, McGrath also took plenty of time to speak about the drought currently gripping much of the state.
It was 29 years ago when a teenage McGrath famously made the move to Sydney with a caravan in tow but he still feels a strong connection with the Narromine region.
He and many others will have a chance to help out at No. 1 Oval on Friday, with funds raised at the game being split between the Buy A Bale campaign and the Ryan Medley Appeal.
“I am a country boy, my father still has property north of Dubbo, my brother has a fair bit of land the other side of Bourke and it’s as dry as I’ve ever seen it,” McGrath said.
“Farmers are doing it real tough so anything we can do to help, I know it’s not a huge help, but just that support and letting them know we are thinking about them.
“They’re going through a real tough time at the moment. Fingers crossed there’s rain not too far away and plenty of it.”
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
