There are sure to be two sets of keen, and nervous, parents in the stands when the West Indies start their tour of Australia at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane tomorrow with a four-day match against state team, Queensland Bulls.
Paul and Andrea Nash, Jamaicans who emigrated to Australia in 1977 and now live in Brisbane, will be cheering on their son, Brendan, Jamaica-conceived, Australia-born and a former Queensland player who will be in the West Indies team to which he earned selection after returning to the land of his roots two years ago.
On the other side, Craig McDermott, fast bowling spearhead of Australia’s Test attack in 71 matches in a career spanning 1984 to 1995, and his wife Ann Maree, will watch their son, Alister, 18, make his first-class debut for Queensland. It will be familiar territory for Nash junior, now 31, who renews acquaintances with former teammates, among them Nathan Rimmington with whom he shared a house, along with present Australian fast bowler, Mitchell Johnson, during his days in Brisbane.
Young McDermott will be 18 years and 164 days at the toss, 75 days younger than Craig when his father made his first-class debut in 1983 for Queensland.
A year later, Craig made his Test debut at the MCG against the West Indies, dismissing Richie Richardson, Larry Gomes and Jeffrey Dujon from seven deliveries in successive overs they were the first three of his eventual 59 wickets in 14 Tests against the West Indies.
“I’m pretty excited to be playing against the West Indies,”Alister said. “It’s a big deal to play against an international team.
I was only four or five when Dad retired so I don’t really remember seeing him play live.”
“I’ve seen the classic matches over the years (on television) and the West Indies always seemed to stand out with big quicks who bowled a lot of bumpers,” he added. Like his father, Alister is a redhead and, according to his father, is “fit and strong with a good run-up and action, and is doing all you can do as an 18-year-old.”
In a state team without Test players, McDermott is expected to open the bowling. With another first-class first-timer, 25-year-old policeman Luke Feldman, in Queensland Bulls teams.
The West Indies have been practising and training daily in hot weather since their arrival in Brisbane last Friday. As the Queensland match is the only one prior to the Tests, their team is likely to be the same as for the Test that starts November 26
Queensland team: Chris Simpson (captain), Ryan Broad, Lee Carseldine, Daniel Doran, Luke Feldman, Chris Hartley, Nick Kruger, Alister McDermott, Nathan Reardon, Nathan Rimmington, Wade Townsend. (Reserve: Scott Walter). (TC).