The search is on for the country’s biggest cricket hitter. Top batsmen from the State Twenty20 Series went head to head today at Eden Park under the watchful eye of charismatic umpire Billy Bowden, who unveiled a new ‘BIG HIT’ signal, especially created for the competition.
State BIG HITS is a three-week nationwide search for New Zealand’s biggest hitter. The event is a joint venture between New Zealand Cricket and State and will culminate in a showdown in Wellington later this month, where six members of the public will go up against today’s winner, Ian Butler from the State Otago Volts who hit a massive 95.98m, and a player from the BLACKCAPS.
1. Ian Butler – 95.98 (State Otago Volts)
2. Colin de Grandhomme – 94.15 (State Auckland Aces)
3. Brent Hefford – 87.91 (State Central Stags)
4. Dewayne Bowden – 85.88 (State Wellington Firebirds)
5. Carl Frauenstein – 84.36 (State Canterbury Wizards)
6. Peter McGlashan – 81.55 (State Northern Knights)
Peter Dwan, New Zealand Cricket Commercial Manager says setting a record for the biggest hit ever officially recorded will bring out the best from cricketers and members of the public all around the country.
“Whether you’re playing on the beach, on the lawn or in a club game, cracking a big hit is always a big adrenalin rush. Lots of Kiwis think they can hit the ball further than some of the professionals – the State BIG HITS competition now gives people a chance to prove it” he says.
Billy Bowden – a man who has seen many a big hit in his years as a leading international cricket umpire – believes the campaign deserved an extra special kick-start with the introduction of his newly-created signal for a ‘Big Hit’, anything over 70m.
“Hitting over 70m would be a huge hit, a great achievement and should be recognised in an upbeat way. In developing my new signal I have tried to imagine the fun & excitement the crowd feels when a player really connects with ‘BALL ON WILLOW’,” he says.
Throughout the competition, BIG HITS will be measured using technology from Duffill Watts surveyors.
Regional public finals held during selected State Twenty20 matches will whittle down backyard batsmen and one representative from each region will be selected for the Wellington final.
See http://www.bighits.co.nz/ for more details, online games and upcoming events during the competition programme.
