Johns To Be Protected Species

Sun Herald

Sunday January 7, 2007

By DANIEL LANE

ANDREW Johns - one of the highest-paid rugby league players - will be covered by the same insurance policy that protects park cricketers when he plays for the NSW Twenty20 team against South Australia's pace attack in Newcastle today.

Johns, at best a fifth-grade cricketer, said "self-preservation" would be his priority if he found himself out in the middle.

The thought of the rugby league great dodging fireballs was a prospect that concerned Cricket NSW chief executive Dave Gilbert.

"He's going to struggle at this high a level," Gilbert said.

"We'll make sure we protect Andrew on the day . . . we'll make sure nothing silly is going on.

"Let's hope the South Australians and Tassies [at Telstra Stadium on Wednesday] will get into the spirit of it. But he's being covered by the insurance scheme all registered players are covered by."

Gilbert confirmed the Newcastle Knights halfback's inclusion in the NSW side was a shameless publicity stunt aimed at attracting new spectators to the game.

"Twenty20 cricket is about getting people to the ground and to the game," he said.

"It's to attract people who have never been to a game before and have them walk away thinking it was a great day out."

Gilbert said he wasn't concerned by the prospect of Johns being placed in such a position that he could cost NSW a place in the national Twenty20 final.

"Last year the Victorians beat us in the final," he said. "There was no trophy or no prizemoney. Our attitude is that the games against South Australia and Tasmania are promotional vehicles."

NSW opening bowler Nathan Bracken, who is hoping to play in the Twenty20 match between Australia and England at the SCG on Tuesday, said he admired Johns's courage to take on the challenge.

He branded Johns on the calf in his only net session but admired the fact he didn't back away from any of the following deliveries.

"He's going to have all of Newcastle on his side," said Bracken. "If he scores a run he'll be cheered like Bradman. If he gets a duck they'll still clap him."

© 2007 Sun Herald

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