Media agency captain Mark Coad has launched the first barb in the lead up to this year's Big Clash cricket tournament, promising a repeat Australia's Ashes heroics in the two-day series.
Coad, who runs PHD when he isn't carting cherries around Sydney University Oval, said Team Media Agency is looking for a clean sweep of the four-team tournament.
“With a strong Aussie contingent in our line-up, we are very confident of doing what our baggy greens just did to the Poms,” Coad bluntly warned, brimming with Nathan Lyon-like swagger and poise.
Coad's confidence comes in the wake of two consecutive victories for the Agency side. Last year, they won by 18 runs with a score of 4/138 - a feat made all the more impressive after media owners were given 14 wickets and one player (Steve Johnson) scored a third of their runs.
Read more: Big Clash 2017 match report
ARN's Rob Atkinson, representing the Media Owners, is confident his charges would put up a better fight this year, and had a message for the groundskeeper.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge...it’s great to be supporting such great causes while having a lot of fun at the same time,” Atkinson said. "I’m hoping the pitch does more for the bowlers than the Ashes ones did.”
AdNews has been reassured that officials would take a heavy-handed approach to pitch doctoring.
Media Agency captain Mark Coad is brimming with Lyon-like confidence for the Big Clash.
Four teams, 50 firms
This year's tournament has been expanded to break up agencies into two teams - media and creative - who will be joined by teams from media owners and technology firms.
There are more than 50 organisations represented with the aim of raising more than $100,000 for UnLtd charities (see below).
“What a great way to start 2018. UnLtd exists to bring the industry together to do good, and this event brings this mantra to life,” UnLtd CEO Chris Freel said.
“If you haven't attended before, you have to come down and experience it for yourself. With over 50 organisations confirmed to play, this year’s events are going to be fantastic. Where else do you see 12 media agencies all playing on the same team!”.
The first tournament will be held at Sydney University on 8 February with a second tournament in Fawkner Park, Melbourne on 15 February.
Both tournaments are followed by a charity auction, post-match celebrations, plenty of drinks and bragging rights for another year.
Media agencies – supporting Missing School (SYD) and Whitelion (MEL)
PHD
OMD
M2M
Mediacom
Mindshare
Blue449
Spark
Zenith Media
Carat
Amplifi
UM
Initiative
Media Owners – supporting Sydney Story Factory (SYD) and Mirabel Foundation (MEL)
JCDecaux
oOh! Media
AdShel
ARN
Nova
MCN
Val Morgan
News
Nine
Guardian
Technology – supporting Backtrack (SYD) and Musicians Making a Difference (MEL)
Snapchat
Domain
REA
Twitter
Quantcast
Players Voice
Yahoo!7
Google
Inmobi
Bonzai
Gum Gum
Creative – supporting Be Centre: (SYD) and Big Brother Big Sister (MEL)
DDB
Monkeys
Maud
TBWA
B&T
Astus
IAB
UnLtd
Event details
Sydney – 8th February 2018
Oval 1, Sydney University, Camperdown, NSW 2006
11:30am – 5pm for cricket
5pm onwards for drinks and charity auction
Melbourne – 15th February 2018
Fawkner Park followed by Bells Hotel
11:30am – 5pm for cricket
5pm onwards for drinks and charity auction
Anyone interested in taking part (only a handful of player places left!), donating an auction prize or finding out more, please contact Chris Freel.
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