World Cup 2015 organisers look for 1,500 net bowlers

Dubai, Oct 23 (IANS) With barely four months to go for the cricket World Cup 2015, the event organisers in Australia and New Zealand are looking for 1,500 net bowlers to help the participating teams in training during the One-Day International (ODI) tournament.

Chief executive of the World Cup 2015 Local Organising Committee, John Harnden said tournament organisers are working with all of the State and Territory Cricket Associations around Australia and the Major Associations in New Zealand to identify net bowlers.

“It’s going to be quite a challenge to find enough bowlers who are prepared to give up their time to help the World Cup teams practice,” Harnden said in a media release Thursday.

Former Australian opening batsman and double World Cup winner, Matthew Hayden was at Allan Border Field in Brisbane Tuesday to run his eye over some potential candidates.

"Net bowlers rarely get any public recognition but they are vital for a batsman's preparation. The World Cup needs a huge number of these very special volunteers and I know the organisers want to do everything they can to make it a great experience for them," Hayden said.

"For some, it will be a once in a lifetime experience to bowl at the world's best batsmen."

Each net bowler will be given a World Cup training uniform, a special memento of the tournament and two match tickets for each practice session in which they take part.