Todd Pinnington

A long time star of Hobart club competition, Todd Pinnington's career provides yet another case study of the misfortune that tends to beset many wicketkeepers in the sport. Having been regarded as inferior in 'keeping ability to Mark Atkinson for several years now, the thoroughly underestimated Pinnington has only enjoyed a very brief taste of representative cricket with Tasmania. Aside from one first-class match in 1994-95 (for which Atkinson was unavailable due to selection in an Australian XI team), his appearances for the state have, to date, been restricted to a few fleeting opportunities in the one-day arena. And even then, a combination of circumstances have contrived to afford him precious little chance to showcase his considerable prowess in any case. A serious eye injury - the legacy of a nasty blow in a grade match at the end of the 1999-2000 season - also threatened to cast a shadow over his continuing ambitions but a satisfactory (if slow) recovery ensured that he still remains a member of Tasmania's squad. Aside from his athleticism and general efficiency behind the stumps, he is a naturally aggressive batsman who holds few fears of bowlers and exemplifies it with some superb shotmaking, especially off the back foot. (John Polack, July 2000)