Former Glen Innes cricketer Jake Turner is continuing his ascent through the cricketing ranks, after last week taking out a competition run by Channel 9 in front of a live national audience.
Turner, 20, was one of five bowlers to be chosen from the Sydney grade competition to compete in Channel 9’s Top Gun competition.
The competition is being run at each of six Test Matches the Australian cricket side plays in the 2011/12 summer.
The idea is to get young uncontracted cricketers from which ever city the Test Match is being played and put them in front of a speed gun to see how fast they bowl.
After the six test matches the overall winner gets the chance to spend a day with the Australian cricket side as well as a coaching session with the Australian team’s bowling coach and former Australian great Craig McDermott.
Turner, a left arm quick playing for Eastern Suburbs in the Sydney grade competition, took part in the Top Gun during the tea break of Australia’s match against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday.
The segment was hosted by world renowned cricket commentator Mark Nicholas and Australian wicketkeeping legend Ian Healy.
When introduced to the audience by Healy, Turner was asked how his form had been this season, he replied “Pretty dusty to say the least Heals,” referring to a tough season with injuries and struggling to stay on the field consistently.
But if he was out of form he certainly didn’t show it, sending down a 135kmph thunderbolt with his first delivery that knocked out middle stump and was good enough to take out the competition.
Turner also received great praise from Nicholas after his first delivery.
“That’s a top class bit of left arm bowling that,” Nicholas said.
“It pitched on off and came back to take out middle.”
“Zaheer Kahn would have been proud of that piece of left arm bowling.”
Turner’s second and final delivery was clocked at 128kmph, but it didn’t matter as his first ball was 3kmph quicker than the nearest competitor.
As prize for winning the Sydney Top Gun, Turner received a HTC Sensation mobile phone. Although he won the Sydney Top Gun he trails a bowler from Melbourne for the overall prize who was clocked at 140kmph.
When interviewed by Nicholas after the competition, Turner said he was more than pleased to take out the Top Gun.
“I’m glad to see I still had it in me,” he said.
Turner said it was a great honour to bowl in front of a national audience.
“It was a good experience and it was good to find out how fast I bowl as well,” he said.
“It was pretty cool to be on national TV and showcase my skills.”
Turner moved to Sydney from Glen Innes in 2009 to pursue a career in cricket and has achieved a great deal of success already.
He is currently the spearhead for East’s first grade side and last year was selected in the Australian Indigenous side.
He said his long term goals are to gain a state cricketing contract.
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