Boam and Tugaga Boost Wellington Firebirds

Cricket Wellington Media Release

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Wellington Firebirds boosted by inclusion of Boam and Tugaga

The 2010-11 Wellington Firebirds squad was finalised this week with Harry Boam (aged 19) and Malaesaili Tugaga (20) named as the final two players in the 12-player contracted group.

Tugaga receives a Wellington Firebirds contract for the first time in 2010-11, while Boam joins the Firebirds for his third season.

Wellington Firebirds Head Coach Anthony Stuart says that the inclusion of these young players, along with the previously announced Joe Austin-Smellie, is good reward for them and notes that all three have already stamped their marks on domestic cricket.

"In his first full season last year, Malaesaili Tugaga took 23 first-class wickets including his first five wicket bag and also scored his maiden first-class hundred," says Stuart.
"Wicket-keeper-batsman Joe Austin-Smellie scored 97 on debut last November and his wicket- keeping has been all class in the games he played for us.
"Harry Boam is a huge talent after first playing for Wellington straight out of school in 2008-09."

"These guys are all young and hungry for more success, which can only be good for the Wellington Firebirds this summer."

Boam, Tugaga, and Joe Austin-Smellie, along with talented opening batsman Josh Brodie, have progressed through the Cricket Wellington age-grade system to the elite level over the past few seasons. The Wellington contracted players' list also features homegrown experienced players James Franklin, Luke Woodcock, Mark Gillespie, Dewayne Bowden who all played for Cricket Wellington's age-grade teams, and Jeetan Patel who is centrally contracted but also homegrown.

Cricket Wellington chief executive Gavin Larsen says the inclusion of these local players is positive for Wellington cricket. "Having so many of our players progressing through our own system reflects well on the development structures and pathways in place for elite young cricketers in Wellington," says Larsen.

New Firebirds captain Grant Elliott and vice captain Jeetan Patel and Andy McKay and Jesse Ryder will join the Firebirds when fit and free from international duties as New Zealand Cricket contracted players.

The Firebirds squad starts pre-season training together at the beginning of October, ahead of the start of the first-class Plunket Shield in early November.
The full Wellington Firebirds contracted squad for 2010-11 is:

Harry Boam
Josh Brodie
Dewayne Bowden
Matthew Bell
Leighton Burtt
James Franklin
Mark Gillespie
Cameron Merchant
Neal Parlane
Joe Austin-Smellie
Malaesaili Tugaga
Luke Woodcock

ENDS

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