Tallangatta’s Brett Allan is Australia’s bravest cricketer.
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What else can you say about someone who asks his wife if he could go for a bat when she’s in labour.
“We actually played Wodonga that day with the hospital obviously right next door,” he laughed.
“So I did ask if I could just sneak across for a sneaky bat.
“She was in quite a bit of agony, so I’m pretty sure I got a stern reply of no.”
It’s a story that will live long in the family with Vanessa giving birth to the couple’s first child Beckett last December.
“Obviously being this age in my life, I’m moving towards family focus, rather than cricket,” the 30-year-old said.
“Obviously getting married and planning a family.”
Given the mid-season arrival, Allan naturally wasn’t able to attend every training session, but he still had a sound season, racking up 244 runs.
Allan admits he still won’t be able to attend every training, but is fully committed.
“He’s been a part-time player previously because he had family commitments and other things,” Bushies’ coach Matt Armstrong said.
“He hasn’t been able to train properly and put the required effort in.
“He’s got more time to devote to his cricket and he should have a pretty good year I reckon.”
Allan’s forte is thrashing the ball in the shortened version.
“He’s been our best player in all the T20 formats that we’ve played in the last few years," Armstrong said.
While he bats either seven or eight in the two-dayers, Allan commands a top four spot in T20-one-day formats.
“Obviously being a bit bigger in size than the average person, I like to hit a long ball,” Allan said.
“Also, it saves on the running.”
Allan will have to rein in his aggressive style though.
“I’m the next one after ‘Armo’ (Armstrong) responsibility-wise, so I think I’ll have to put my head down a little bit, but I think I’ll thrive on that, especially with the shorter formats,” he said.
The Bushies face Wodonga Raiders on Saturday.