Cricket Tasmania chief executive Nick Cummins said Ricky Ponting and George Bailey have graduated from Tasmanian and Australian captains to ambassadors.
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Reflecting on the Launceston-raised pair’s performances at Monday’s Allan Border Medal presentations, Cummins said their maturity spoke volumes for the environment in which they grew up.
“They’ve long been outstanding ambassadors for Tasmania and Australia and demonstrated that as much in how they accepted their awards as in how they’ve performed through their playing careers,” he said.
Cummins said it was impossible not to feel proud as Ponting was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame while Bailey was named men's domestic player of the year and NSW-born wicket-keeper Georgia Redmayne awarded the Betty Wilson young cricketer of the year.
“I’ve only had a little bit to do with Ricky since I joined Cricket Tasmania but his presence and cricket mind just dominates a room. He’s an extremely intelligent speaker and has a lot to add to Tasmanian cricket beyond his playing days.
“I think George still had a lot to offer at international level but he’s also been able to move forward and be a constructive contributor for Australian cricket. And for me in my role, he has been a vital ally in terms of the amount of change we were going to need and to have his leadership through that has been fantastic.
“Along with Georgia, who has very quickly established herself as one of the most exciting prospects coming through in Australian cricket, all three are really good examples of what Tasmanian cricket can produce.”