FORMER United All Blacks player Brett Russell is set to work alongside the likes of Brett Lee, Brad Haddin, Ed Cowan, Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith during the Big Bash after being handed a rookie community scholarship by the Sydney Sixers team.
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Having played the first few games of the 2014/15 season with the Kempsey side, the 19 year old moved to Sydney last month for his new role.
So far he has had the opportunity to train with the side and has also fielded for them in a trial match.
Despite being a talented player in his own right, Russell said he interested in the coaching aspect of the game and is hoping to pick up some tips at the elite level.
“I want to inspire other indigenous kids to play the game of cricket and show them that anything is possible,” he said.
“It will be good for me to see how a team like the sixers operates and I’m sure I will be able to learn some new skills from seeing batsman like Ed Cowan in action.”
Russell was nominated for the scholarship following his work in Kempsey as a Development Officer for Cricket NSW.
In addition to his work within the Sixers camp, Russell will also play a support role in next year’s Imparja Cup, a National Indigenous cricket competition held annually in Alice Springs