The Southpaw Project
Following a path less travelled, Blake tries to prove to himself he can perform at an elite level, while changing the game he loves.
Re-teaching himself to play left-handed and starting in Canberra’s Second Grade competition, The Southpaw Project follows Blake’s five-year pursuit to be the first true "ambidextrous cricketer" to play in the Big Bash League - batting, bowling and fielding left and right-handed.
05/07/2021
A huge thank you to everyone who has supported the film so far. Your donations and help spreading the word about The Southpaw Project has been incredible!
If you want to help get this story onto the big screen, every dollar goes a long way, so please help us tell this inspiring story by donating at https://documentaryaustralia.com.au/project/the-southpaw-project/
Lachlan Ross, Director
29/06/2021
Flashback to when the Dean brothers made history in 2018. Blake with a record-breaking 291, and Jono with 205 against Queanbeyan in the ACT Cricket Douglas Cup semi-final. To find out more about The Southpaw Project, or to support the film, visit: https://documentaryaustralia.com.au/project/the-southpaw-project/?fbclid=IwAR0CKGHhw9dQXFNJENhZOE7UDbWyNPQFDdLoRUcG_IG1ZkxeszLSEyzHhIw
📷 Graeme Watson
20/06/2021
Blake Dean weighs in on some of the mental health struggles during his sporting career. Men’s mental health week is a great opportunity to stop and reflect on some of the challenges the men in our lives face. Make sure to regularly check in with your teammates to make sure they’re okay.
When any athlete’s “big break” comes, it’s a career defining moment. Pressure mounts as self expectations rise. In 2014, Canberra cricketer Blake Dean received a last-minute call up to the Sydney Thunder for his debut Big Bash League match. But leaving the SCG that evening, his mental health plummeted after failing to perform when it counted.
After 5 years filming Blake's journey to be the first true "ambidextrous cricketer" to play in the Big Bash League, we are now seeking philanthropic partners to help finance the final stages of production and post-production of our feature documentary, The Southpaw Project.
If partnering together to promote the impact of mental health in professional sport is of interest to you or your business, find out more here: https://documentaryaustralia.com.au/project/the-southpaw-project/
Cricket ACT Cricket NSW Sydney Thunder Western District Cricket Club Weston Creek Molonglo Cricket Club The Canberra Times Caden Helmers Bathurst & District Cricket Association
15/06/2021
Director Lachlan Ross shares what inspired him to tell Blake's story.
15/06/2021
24/05/2021
Behind the scenes interview with Blake Dean in Canberra 🏏🎥
This week we were fortunate enough to land an interview down in Melbourne with author and journalist Gideon Haigh to get his thoughts on The Southpaw Project and ambidextrous cricket!
07/05/2019
Caught up with Big Bash Champ Jono Dean to get his take on the backyard cricket battles growing up with Blake Dean 🏏
📷 Doug Hall Photographer
15/01/2019
We greatly underestimate what we are all capable of
WATCH: Australia unearths ambidextrous cricketer Cricket: Meet Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Australia's new ambidextrous cricket prodigy. The 16-yr-old excelled at the Under 17 National Championship, taking wickets with his left and his right arm. Vision courtesy of Cricket Australia.
05/10/2018
The Southpaw Project is headed into the third and final year of the switch cricket experiment.
After scoring 291 in the Canberra Premier semi-final, and winning the 50 over and two-day titles with Weston Creek Molonglo Cricket Club last year, Blake Dean will take the pitch for Western District & University of Canberra Cricket Club in a player/coach role this season.
This will be the final year following Blake's journey before the Southpaw documentary is released!
Stay tuned.
📷 Doug Hall Photographer
19/03/2018
The Southpaw project had its very first season in 1st grade premier cricket as a switch player in 2017/18 with very mixed results. Still looking for mycricket to create the first ever switch cricketer in premier cricket Australia and a lot to learn from the season.
RH WICKETS: 6
LH WICKETS: 16
RH RUNS: 291
LH RUNS: 285
1x One day premiership as a left handed player
1x Two day premiership as a right handed player
Another Gatorade Australia Top Performer!
Upload your nomination HERE: http://cricketa.us/GatoradeTopPerformer
Brothers Jono Dean (Adelaide Strikers) and Blake Dean (Sydney Thunder, 2014) both scored double centuries in their semi-final of ACT Premier Cricket. Jono made 204 while scored 291, but what makes this more interesting is Blake has been playing left-handed all year in 1st grade and changed to play right-handed for finals!
The southpaw project has had a tough initiation into premier cricket for its first season in 2017/2018.
Struggling through the season to make 264 runs left handed at an average of 18 opening the batting.
3 innings as a right hander in 2 years before finals has seen scores of 0, 0, 291 runs at an average of average of 97.
What we have learnt so far.
*Could batting left handed for 2 years strengthen your eye line on both sides?
*Is there a place for switch cricket in the longer format?
*Will mycricket let you record your innings as a right or left handed player eventually?
With one more year with the project next year, it will be interesting for viewers to see if Blake can become strong enough on his left side to break a hundred, and cement a spot as the first ever to score hundreds in premier cricket as both a left and right handed batsman.
2017/18- 57 left handed, Premier Cricket
2017/18- 291 out right handed, Premier Cricket. First player ever to score 50s both left and right handed in Premier cricket in a season.
A big thank you to Cricket Mentoring for the support through the season. Without realising it, your guidance and simple videos on your page has helped Blake keep motivated, have fun and most importantly-not give up.
If I was a kid out there I would be signing up to Cricket Mentoring ASAP. I wish I had the support they are offering now when I was a kid.
With a strong winter training, the Southpaw Project is very excited to see the finish to an interesting 3 year experiment. To see the results this year it’s exciting to see what’s possible as an ambidextrous cricketer in 2019.
Cricket Mentoring Helping cricketers from around the world become their best through our online programs and one-to-on
10/03/2018
After struggling with the bat left-handed, Blake Dean reminded the Canberra first-grade comp what he's capable of right-handed yesterday!
Dean brothers shatter Cricket ACT records with double tons Jono and Blake couldn't have scripted this one any better.
31/01/2018
In basketball many of the NBA's biggest stars grew up aspiring to win an NBA championship with their club, not an Olympic gold medal for their country.
What do you think about cricket players chasing T20 cash over wearing the baggy green?
Chris Lynn T20 career burns Test cricket aspirations CHRIS Lynn was once hopeful of following David Warner’s lead and going from T20 slugger to Test star, but that’s no longer the case.
Despite predictions Blake Dean's batting would be his best asset this season, it's been his bowling that has helped lead the way for Weston Creek Molonglo Cricket Club's 1st Grade side.
Last week, Blake was accepted back into the Cricket ACT Comets training squad - this time as a 'switch' cricketer!
Get set as The Southpaw Project continues to take flight in 2018!
It was a mixed day for Blake Dean in the Canberra 1st Grade one-day final. He was the pick of the bowlers, bagging 2/40 off 10 overs, but failed to get off the mark with the bat. Thankfully Weston Creek Molonglo Cricket Club scraped over the line with 5 balls remaining to take the 2017/18 Gallop Cup!
Catch his highlights here and share with a mate who can't get off the mark!
Catch Blake Dean and Weston Creek Molonglo Cricket Club in their one day grand final tomorrow 11am at Sterling oval!
06/11/2017
After a couple of tough weeks, Blake Dean bounced back over the weekend with bat and ball.
30/10/2017
“With the southpaw project I hope to change the game I love and open the door for junior cricketers around the world to push their boundaries, have fun and always challenge themselves.”
-Blake Dean
Read Matthew Hughes' full article here.
The Southpaw Project By Matthew Hughes Becoming an elite sportsman is not easy. Thousands of hours are spent honing various aspects of your game, with the intention of mastering your craft. After years of dedication fe…
The Southpaw Project getting a shout out on WIN News Canberra ahead of Sunday's T20 Grand Final!
Catch Blake and Weston Creek Molonglo Cricket Club up against Wests/UC 7pm Sunday at Manuka Oval.
17/10/2017
Another week of switch cricket in the books and some more great stats for The Southpaw Project's Blake Dean!
Notching his first left-handed 50 in 1st grade while bowling 10 overs for just 29 runs left-handed, Blake helped Weston Creek Molonglo Cricket Club to a win their first game of the one-day season.
Then in Creek's T20 semi-final, he knocked 23 runs switching sides, and bowled 4 overs for 23 runs right-handed.
By scoring 57 off 60 balls on Saturday. Blake Dean became the first ever player to have scored a half century in 1st grade premier cricket as a left handed batsman and right handed batsman.
-Right handed 50s x 31
-Left handed 50s x 1
Is it possible to become the first ever switch cricketer?
Video from round 3 T20 v Queanbeyan district cricket club.
MyCricket cricket.com.au Cricket ACT SpartanSport
08/10/2017
The Southpaw Project's debut in 1st grade was a success! Check out Blake's stats from the weekend.
Is this the future of cricket?
Tag a mate Who should make the switch this season!
A huge thank you to Spartan Sports and Weston Indoor Sports for supporting The Southpaw Project. Bring on summer!
A big part of Blake Dean's training to play 'switch' cricket comes away from the nets.
Conner Deck from Accelerate Fitness Training has worked hard with Blake over the past year to strengthen both sides of his body and help prevent injury.
This is a drill you can try at home. All you need is a medicine ball, a mate, and your cricket gear. Train smart and train hard in the lead up to summer!
The Southpaw Project would like to thank Sarah and the team at the SportsTec Clinic for their amazing support. Give Sarah and the team at Sports Tec a call if you need physiotherapy, rehabilitation, exercise physiology and nutritional and dietary advice. check out their website at sportstecclinic.com.au
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