BIG NAMES AGAIN FOR THIS YEAR’S GREY CRICKET BASH

The third annual Powerade Grey Cricket Bash, will take place on the 22^nd, 23^rd and 24^th of September this year. The foundations that were laid during the 2019 and 2020 versions of the event have not crumbled, despite Covid-19 preventing the event from taking place in 2021. Interest in the Bash has peaked and it remains a highlight on the Grey High School Sports Calendar.

Six teams will square off on the Pollock Oval at Grey High School where 78 players from U14 all the way up to the 1^st XI have been divided into equal teams, managed by renowned cricket coaches.

The Celebrity Coaches for 2022 include:

• Russell Domingo, current head coach of Bangladesh.
• Dave Callaghan and Pieter “Striker” Strydom, both former Proteas players and Old Greys. Dave Callaghan was also the captain of the SA Team for the Over 50’s World Cup in 2020.
• Mfuneko Ngam, former Proteas fast bowler.
• Warren Bell, former Griqualand West cricketer and Old Grey.
• Arno Jacobs, Scotland international and former 1^st class cricketer and current 1^st class umpire.

Grey High School Head of Cricket, Deon Kruis, said that the tournament’s innovative format will be the same as in 2020, where each innings will be 20 overs consisting of five balls per over. The change of ends will also take place every 5 overs as opposed to the conventional change after each over. The tournament will include special rules to even the playing field between the junior and senior players.

The tournament is a fantastic opportunity for the younger cricketers to play alongside their senior counterparts. The tournament is set to grow from strength to strength and the experience gained by the younger players, along with the fact that they get to play on the Pollock Oval which is the official 1^st XI home ground, is something they will treasure for a long time.

Each celebrity coach will be paired with a Grey High School cricket coach.  Guests will bid on the coaching staff on Monday 19 September at the Bash Auction and teams will be unveiled on the same evening. Powerade will be the main sponsor of the Bash in their final year of a three-year agreement.

The 2022 team owners are: Investec, Bearing Co, Pam Golding and Greyvensteins, Expert Kloppers and Office Automation. Various other companies are co-owners of teams, product sponsors or have bought double run zones along the boundary rope where a four or six is doubled if hit into the sponsored area. These companies include: Phicor, Space Television, Optima Brokers, Synergy Project Managers, Market Force, South Boulevard Café, Strategy Advertising, Warwick Wealth, IXU and Zone23.

Dave Callaghan and Grey High School Rector, Chris Erasmus, will be hoping to defend the Bash title which they won as part of the Space Market Strikers coaching team in 2020.

This year, SuperSport Schools will be live-streaming all the matches. The global link will be communicated nearer the time on the Grey High School Facebook Page. SuperSport Schools chose Grey High School as 1 of 10 schools during Covid in 2020 to have a permanent A.I. camera installed on the Kolisi Field (and later also on the Rectory Astroturf) to ensure that no sports match was missed while Covid-19 regulations limited spectator participation. The winter sport permanent camera has been moved to Water Polo for the summer sports season.

As part of Bash hype this year, a Cricket Dinner and Question and Answer Session with Shaun Pollock, Dave Callaghan, Mfuneko Ngam and Solo Nqweni will take place on Friday 23 September at 18h30 for 19h00 in the De Waal Hall at Grey High School. Tickets are still available for this exciting event, but bookings are essential. Please contact marketing@thegrey.com

Pool matches for the Bash will take place on Thursday and Friday, with knock-out fixtures and cross pool semi-finals on Saturday before the final late in the afternoon.

The event this year will also include a social responsibility arm. Donation Bins will be placed around the field where all those attending the Bash are encouraged to donate their pre-used cricket equipment which will be donated to aspiring young cricketers in the township hubs.

The event is open to the public and will continue to promote cricket in the region with exciting matches, DJ music, MC interviews and fun for the whole family. A firm favourite for spectators is the R10,000 spectator one-handed-catch prize which applies throughout the event. Should more than one spectator achieve a clear one-handed catch, the prize money will be split.

The Grey Cricket Bash starts at 13:00 on Thursday afternoon and continues from 08:00 to 18:00 on Friday and Saturday. Entrance is free.