Dan Constable has two special memories of playing at the Sydney Cricket Ground but wants to make Sunday’s third visit a winning one.
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The talented 19-year-old Keira junior will skipper the Illawarra Flames in the Regional Bash Finals at the iconic SCG.
Sixteen regional NSW teams entered the inaugural T20 Bash, with the Flames beating Central Coast Rush and Newcastle Blasters to qualify from the Sydney Sixers Conference.
The Flames take on Northern Inland Bolters at 10am on Sunday with the winner to back up against the Thunder’s Border Bullets or Orana Outlaws in a pink ball night final under lights.
Constable is in his third season of Sydney Grade with Campbelltown and as their second grade skipper scored a career-best 150 last Saturday week against North Sydney.
He’s already played twice at the SCG – with the champion Illawarra Bradman Cup under 16s team in the State Challenge final in 2012 and with Keira under 16s in the T20 State Cup finals.
‘‘It was an unbelievable experience both games and to get a third chance to play at the SCG, which is something few players do, makes this Sunday really special,’’ Constable said.
‘‘The only extra wish this time is for us to get a win and make the Bash final. That’d be something really significant and lift the profile of Illawarra cricket.’’
The promising batsman cites former Australian skipper Michael Clarke as his idol and says his greatest SCG moment was watching Clarke’s unbeaten 329 against India at the home of NSW cricket.
‘‘To be out there and play on the same ground as Clarke and so many other great players is pretty humbling,’’ Constable said.
‘‘It’s great country players can strive to play at the SCG and it’s a realistic goal. We won two games and we are there now.’’
Constable and Campbelltown teammate Tylar Edwards and Sutherland’s Kyle Brockley are Illawarra’s home grown stars who are also their three ‘‘marquee’’ men on Sunday.
Five Illawarra clubs have a representative in the squad of 13, with most of the squad to savour their first game at the SCG.
Last Sunday Illawarra trained at North Dalton Park using pink balls which will be used in the SCG finals.
Illawarra Flames squad: Dan Constable (capt, Campbelltown), Dale Scifleet (Dapto), Hayden McCrae (Helensburgh), Mitch McCrae (Burgh), Lachlan Dunn (Nth Districts), Tylar Edwards (Campbelltown), Matt Ward (Burgh), Jamie Fleming (Bally), Matt Skora (Port), Kyle Brockley (Sutherland), Kendrick Hatton (Dapto), Pat Hammond (Dapto), Michael Stephenson (Balgownie).