ACT Comets

Australian Capital Territory (ACT Comets)

One Day name	ACT Comets
Personnel
Captain	Jono Dean
Team information
Founded	1928
Home ground	Manuka Oval
Capacity	15,000
History
Futures League wins	1
Official website	ACT Comets

The ACT Comets (also known as the Canberra Comets) are a cricket team that represent the Australian Capital Territory. The Comets are the premier team of the Cricket ACT who are affiliated with Cricket Australia.

In the Domestic One Day Competition

The ACT Comets were participants in the Australian domestic limited-overs Mercantile Mutual Cup competition. They did not, however, field a team in the four-day Sheffield Shield competition. Their Mercantile Mutual Cup involvement lasted from the 1997–98 season to the 1999–2000 season. It was found that there was insufficient local support at that time to be financially viable in the first-class and list-A competitions. Former Australian Test bowler Merv Hughes was brought out of retirement to help ACT, as was former Test batsman Mike Veletta.^[1]

ACT and Canberra region players

Australian internationals Brad Haddin and Nathan Lyon played for the Comets.^[2] Former Australian Test batsman Michael Bevan was born in Canberra and played cricket with the Weston Creek club, but did not play for the Comets.^[3]

Police Magistrate A. T. Faunce was instrumental in bringing cricket to the Canberra-Queanbeyan region in the 1830s and died while playing the game at the Queanbeyan Market reserve (now Queen Elizabeth Park).^[4][5] There have been 25 players to play 50 or more games for the ACT. Four players have reached 100, while Peter Solway is the only to have reached 150 games. The highest individual scores in ACT grade cricket have been: 339 – PJ Solway (1989/90), 300 – JR Dean (2012/13), 246 – CE Hincksman (1926/27), 238 – L Lees (1932/33), 220 – C Brown (2008/9), 215 – L Lees (1933/34), 211 – PJ Solway (1990/91), 207- NH Fairbrother (1988/89), 205 – JN Williams (1988/89), 200 – MJ Dawn (2001/02), 200- C Brown (2008/09) Owen Chivers 204* and Michael Spaseski 221 in same match 2013/14 .^[6]

In Second XI

Today, the team represents Canberra in the lower-level Second XI competition, a reserve grade to the Sheffield Shield. The Comets finished the 2005–06 season in fourth place with two outright wins. The Comets took out their first ever title in the 2010–11 season.^[7]

Player transfers

In the period 2011-2012 six 20 to 23-year-old first class listed players who learnt cricket in Canberra have had to transfer interstate – Jason Floros (20, QLD), Jason Behrendorff (20, WA), Nathan Lyon (23, SA), Ashton May (21, Tas), Ryan Carters (20, VIC) and Will Sheridan (23, VIC).^[8]

See also

• Manuka Oval

References

External links

• ACT Comets home page
• Article – ACB confirms decision to omit Canberra from Mercantile Mutual Cup

• v
• t
• e

Sport in the Australian Capital Territory

By sport
Australian rules football Rugby league Rugby union Soccer

Sporting teams based in the Australian Capital Territory

Australian rules football NEAFL: Ainslie Belconnen Eastlake Tuggeranong Queanbeyan Basketball WNBL: Canberra Capitals Baseball ABL: Canberra Cavalry Cricket Futures League: Canberra Comets WNCL: ACT Meteors Field hockey AHL: Canberra Lakers Ice hockey AIHL: CBR Brave Roller derby Skate Australia: Canberra Roller Derby League Varsity Derby League Rugby league NRL / NYC: Canberra Raiders Rugby union Super Rugby: ACT Brumbies NRC: University of Canberra Vikings Soccer A-League Women: Canberra United NYL: AIS

Venues
AIS Arena Canberra Stadium Deakin Stadium Gungahlin Enclosed Oval Manuka Oval McKellar Park Narrabundah Ballpark Phillip Ice Skating Centre Phillip Oval Southern Cross Stadium Viking Park Woden Park

see also: Sport in Australia