In famous footsteps

An excellent article in the Age takes a look at state cricket in Australia and what drives the players.

Of course, they all want to play for Australia. Only the cream get there. But the lot of a state cricketer is not shabby. Consider leg-spinner Bryce McGain, who, at 35, cracked his first state contract and has all but had to quit his high-paying IT job with a major bank for the privilege of scraping through as a single dad on a base contract. For him, living the dream of being a professional cricketer has nothing to do with fortune.

The pay’s not bad, ranging from AUS$38,000 for a rookie to Aus$170,000 at the top for those who play every game. Nick Jewell, who opens for Victoria, sums things up nicely.

"One of the best jobs in the world, no doubt … My brother's a plumber and a lot of my friends are tradesmen, out there digging holes in the pouring rain fixing people's plumbing.”