Cricket stars Mark Cosgrove and Craig Simmons join line-up for 2022 Southern Smash in Albany

Albany’s Southern Smash has added two more big names to an already impressive list of signatures for regional WA’s premier T20 competition in December. Former State cricket stars and hard-hitting batters Mark Cosgrove and Craig Simmons have both signed up for the fourth edition of the Smash. This news comes just a week after the announcement of marquee player and ex-Sri-Lanka international Tillakaratne Dilshan. Simmons played domestically for WA and New South Wales in a career that spanned a decade. He is best known for his rise from district cricket in 2013-14 as a 31-year old and to signing with the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. Simmons was a dangerous short-form batter who still holds the record for the fastest BBL century after his historic 102-run innings off 41 balls in that same season. Now more known for his spin bowling, Simmons is still playing first grade cricket with Rockingham-Mandurah in the WA Premier Competition. Cosgrove, a cult figure who has three ODI caps for Australia, also played for the Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Thunder and the Sydney Sixers in his BBL career. Cosgrove most recently played county cricket for Leicestershire Cricket Club from 2015 to 2020. Adam Pumphrey, part of the Southern Smash committee, is buoyed by the inclusion of the former Australian international. “Adding a guy like Mark Cosgrove who is still very active as well is awesome,” Pumphrey said. “Again he’s an ex-Australian international along with Dilshan who brings international flavour and Mark is really excited to come across.” “At this stage we will continue to bring more names forward and the key for us is we ideally want one ex-international or well renowned player at each franchise.”