The math is simple.
Twenty-eight into 12 simply won’t fit.
With less than 300 days until the Delhi Commonwealth Games commence, Australia officially kick started its campaign in Sydney today (8/12) under the guidance of newly appointed national coach Rex Johnston.
Having dominated the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, capturing five medals from just six disciplines including three gold, the Australians are once again hoping to flex their might on the international stage, with Johnston wasting little time placing the microscope over his star-studded squad.
Over the course of the next two days, a number of intra-squad test matches will be played at Pittwater Memorial Bowling Club, 45 minutes north of Sydney, with the results having a significant bearing on the final team that will compete at the game’s showpiece event.
Making conditions all the more uncomfortable for the current Australian squad, however, is the presence of nine ‘wildcards’ who are desperate to claim a berth to Delhi.
Among the wildcards invited to compete at this week’s national camp include Helensvale’s Mark Casey and Nathan Rice, who captured gold and bronze respectively in Melbourne, as well as former under-25 world champion Aron Sherriff.
According to Johnston, who competed at four Commonwealth Games in his own right, the heat is on for each and every one of the 28 players to perform.
“I think we needed a little bit of a freshen up and this is the way to do it,” Johnston said.
“They all know that it starts now…the scores and results that they get out of this (week) will be a factor in if they get selected.
“No one has been to India before so it’s going to be a new learning curve for everyone but our goal is six gold so we’re really going for that and we can’t see why we can’t (achieve it).”
