Chuck by name, elite fast bowler by nature

With the rainy season slowly coming to a close, Broome locals will be starting to see the familiar sight of cricketers training.

However, there is something happening in the Haynes Oval cricket nets that they may not have seen before outside the comfort of their lounges watching cricket on TV or at the WACA.

It’s the sight of a ball being delivered at speeds of 140km/h and more, the whistle as it cuts through the humid air and the thud as it hits the back of the nets.

Chris Chuck, who until only a season ago was listed to the Victorian Bushrangers, has now moved to Broome and will be coming off his long run for the President’s XI in the upcoming Divers’ Twenty/20 Big Bash competition kicking off on July 3.

Not only will he be bringing his pace with the ball, but he also sports an impressive statistics card with the bat which includes multiple centuries in the Victorian Premier League.

During his time with the Bushrangers, Chuck was hampered by some serious shoulder injuries which ultimately ended his elite level career, but used his time there to develop his skills with some of the best.

Chuck’s mentor was the man who planned the demise of Australia in the recent Ashes series, David Saker.

“Sakes taught me a huge amount about the game,” he said.

“Not just the technical things, but how to approach different situations as a player and coach, and hopefully I can continue passing that knowledge on to some of the players here in Broome.”

Since coming to WA, Chuck has coached some of the State under-19 fast bowlers, and hopes to start coaching in Broome.

“It would be great to lift the profile of the sport here in Broome, and it may take a star to come out of the region or town itself to do that,” he said.

“So if I can help in any way for that to happen then that would be great.

“Even if a handful more people come down to have a look at the games here that would be a positive step, even if they do just turn up hoping to see a Victorian getting hit over the fence.”

There are still places and possibly teams available in the competition which includes, for the first time, a team from Derby.

Contact Broome Cricket Association president James Carpenter 0400 842 554.