At the mansion, Lee welcolmes the final 11 and this weeks theme is strength. The challenge for skipper involves bungy running to grab a flag – a horizontal version of bungy jumping. Dutchie and Richard are first, and it’s basically resistance running and neither get the flag. Then it’s Josh and Jake – they fail too. James is the first to get a flag, followed by David. It’s a showdown between David and James and the winner is …….James. He’s the skipper for this week and will be moving into the ensuite.
Now at training the boys are having a session and Graham says he is going to step it up this week. The boys do laps fully padded and are spent, Justin even has an asthma attack. They run for 45 minutes and now it’s time for the skill element – it’s the Julio’s vs the nerds again in a competition to hit the stumps. The Julios win – making it one all so far in the series.
In the next challenge, each superstar wannabe will have to try and pull their mini bus 20m, whoever does it in the quickest time will win sports equipment, supplements and immunity. To top it off – all the other contestants will be in the bus along with Lee and Graham. James is first and pulls it in 40 seconds, next is Mason who looks like he’s tap dancing and fails. David pulls it in 1min 6 seconds, Justin 47seconds, Richard manages 52 seconds while Josh gets 59 seconds. Ben gets a speedy 33 seconds and last up is Dutchie. He gets low and gets the time of 36 seconds. So Ben is safe this week.
At the ground the boys find out that they will be playing the Bulls Masters – who have all previously played first class cricket. Alex drops an easy ball, Jake gets a great wicket. Justin is the first batsman out and Jake gets out for 21 runs and the team is 4/52. Ben gets a great 6 and with the last ball and 1 run needed they get run out so the game is tied at 5/151. They go into a super over where they nominate three batters and see how many runs they can get off 1 over. The superstars get 12 off their over, Chris is bowling and the Bulls get 6 off the first ball and get 14 by the end of the over. Graham is proud and the fresh talent and $1000 goes to Ben for his awesome batting.
The boys now head to the Brisbane Institute of Art and are dressed in plastic jumpsuits! The boys will have to throw paint covered bowling balls at a canvas of stumps and whoever has the most colourful canvas will get a signed cricket bat from the 2009 West Indies vs Australia series. Jake goes really well as does Josh while Chris and Dutchie decide to face paint. The winner of the fresh skills challenge is the forever injured Alex.
Last chance training is upon the boys and they are met by Ryan Harris (a first grade bowler) and are given tips on their bowling skills while Allan watches on. Alex is sitting this one out again due to injury and I am a bit scared for him. Ryan gives them advice on how to play for Australia and wishes them luck.
Heading to dismissal we know Ben is safe (due to immunity) and he also won the man of the match. James is a born leader according to Graham and is safe. In the top order are David, Dutchie and Jake – all safe. In the middle order are Richard, Chris and Josh – they are safe but need to bring more. In the bottom order are Alex, Mason and Justin and at least one is heading home. Mason is safe and going home this week is the injured Alex.
The remaining team members making the top ten are:
1 – Josh Clarke (18) NSW – Spin bowler and all rounder.
2 – Jake Fawcett (21) WA – Wicketkeeper
3 – Ian “Dutchie” Holland (21) VIC – Batter
5 – Justin Avendano (18) NSW – A NSW under 19 batter.
6 – Richard Potter (18) NSW – Wicketkeeper.
9 – Mason Crozier (20) VIC – Pace bowler.
10 – Ben Cooper (19) TAS – Batter.
11 – Chris Chellew (21) WA – Bowler and fielder.
12 – David Vernon (21) WA – Pace bowler
14 – James Moss (22) SA - Batter and all rounder.
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