More stars confirmed for Imparja Cup opener

Max Bennett

02Feb10

FORMER Australian test openers Matthew Elliott and Rick Darling are the last names to be added to the ACA Masters side for Sunday's Imparja Cup opener at Traeger Park.

The scorer of more than 17,000 first class runs, Elliott returns to Central Australia for his second Masters' visit, with the final squad of 12 confirmed by the ACA yesterday.
Elliott and Darling were joined by ex-Victorian Bushranger Graeme Vimpani and former NSW opener Richard Chee Quee, rounding out the squad that includes no fewer than seven former Australian test and one-day players.
Elliott, who played 21 tests for Australia and over 200 first class matches, adds significant batting weight to a side sporting a strong bowling line-up.
Darling takes to the field at Traeger Park for the first time as an ACA player, having last played a test for Australia in 1979 at the tender age of just 23.
Despite only a short test career, Darling is most famously remembered for almost suffocating on his chewing gum after being hit on the chest by a delivery from England bowler Bob Willis during the 1978/1979 Ashes tour.
Unfortunately the addition of Elliott and Darling has come as cover for the withdrawal of two-time World Cup winner Brad Hogg and former test star Greg Blewett.
The ACA Masters open the 2010 Imparja Cup on Sunday evening at Traeger Park against an Indigenous Invitational XI lead by recently retired Australian cricket legend Matthew Hayden.
The ACA Masters squad: Jo Angel, Jason Gillespie, Greg Matthews, Phil Emery, Mick Lewis, Matthew Elliott, Corey Richards, Wayne Holdsworth, Len Pascoe, Rick Darling, Richard Chee Quee, Graeme Vimpani.