How hockey helped Ross earn a masters degree in ‘sweepology’

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This was published 4 years ago

How hockey helped Ross earn a masters degree in ‘sweepology’

By Sarah Keoghan

When the Ross family moved to Christchurch in 1998, Alex did what any other six-year-old in New Zealand would do. He decided to play rugby.

Despite his father Ashley eventually becoming assistant coach of the New Zealand national cricket team, Ross was determined at that age to have rugby as his No.1 sport. But the rugby dream came to an end when he was 13 years old.

"It was summer, it was the first game of the season so the ground was too hard," he said. "I got tackled by one of the bigger kids ... I was the only one of the smaller ones, dumped on my head and knocked out cold. Next thing I know I've woken up and mum's standing over me and said, 'This is your last game of rugby'."

Alex Ross will make his debut for the Sydney Thunder against his former team the Brisbane Heat on Tuesday.

Alex Ross will make his debut for the Sydney Thunder against his former team the Brisbane Heat on Tuesday.Credit: AAP

After rugby, Ross still didn't make the leap to cricket but instead tried his luck with hockey.

Heading into his first season with the Sydney Thunder on Tuesday, Ross said it was these years in hockey that forged the sweep shot he is known for today.

"I stopped playing [rugby] and my sister at the time had just taken up hockey as her sport of choice," he said. "I went along and watched, was bored and picked up a stick and went to the back ovals, and just hit balls for fun."

"One of the coaches walked over and said, 'Do you want to play?' and so I played until I finished school, till I was about 18 and cricket took over."

Ross made his way to cricket when the family returned to Australia, his father taking up a job coaching the ACT Comets.

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"I always played obviously with dad being coach," he said. "I finished school, played grade cricket and then got my first contract out of that."

It was during Ross' second season in the BBL he was first dubbed the 'sweepologist' by colourful commentator Damien Fleming, a nickname that has stuck ever since.

"I was playing for the Strikers and basically Adelaide Oval being quite short square [of the wicket], it just seemed to make sense just to be able to sweep everyone," he said. "All of a sudden he dubbed me that name."

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"I don't know if it is a blessing or a curse, I'll wait till the end of my career and let you know."

Ross faces his old team, the Brisbane Heat, on Tuesday at the Gabba.

After playing his first two seasons with the Adelaide Strikers, Ross moved to the Heat in 2016 before signing with the Sydney Thunder for this year. He says will be prepared for some booing from the stands.

"I've had it before," he said. "If we can get a win, it means that little bit more."

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