What’s better than long hot summers, sitting in front of the telly watching cricket and spinning out 12th Man albums for the LOLs? Doing all that AND heading up to your local newsagents to buy packets of cricket cards.
This summer, a new player - Tap’n’play Technologies - is releasing their first full-blown set of Australian cricket cards, as well as an exclusive 7-card autograph legends card set. With the signature cards already out, in hand they are magnificent. Signed and personalised by seven past players: Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Arthur Morris, Alan Davidson and Neil Harvey. This exclusive 7-card set (limited to 50 cards each) can be purchased as individual cards or as a full set directly from www.tapnplay.net
And by the time the Test series and Big Bash League/04 is in full swing, hitting newsagents and trading card hobby shops in January is a full-blown set, like the old days. The base set is 185 cards broken down in to the eight BBL teams, as well as the Australian men’s test, ODI and T20 teams and the Australian women’s Southern Stars. Key international visitors to the BBL – Flintoff, Kallis, Pietersen – have also been included, each player chased down by Tap’n’play to obtain pics of them in their BBL colours.
The common set will also be available in silver (1:2 packets) and gold (1:4 packets) parallel to give collectors a hit per pack. Inserts will make an appearance too; seeded through the run are Strike Bowlers (1:13 packets), Strike Batsmen (1:13 packets) and Team Superstars (1:26 packets). For set collectors, there will be an official binder (with sleeves), and not one…not two…but three different album cards to hunt down. Whilst there are no case cards for this release, the Team Superstars will be at a ratio of one-per-box. With the tease releases of card images on Tap’n’play’s Facebook page, I am already excited by the Strike Batsman card of David Warner. A classic cricket pose, the mo…and a batsman in a BAGGY GREEN cap…simply marvellous!
For mine, one of the significant improvements Tap’n’play have made for this cricket release is the inclusion of the Southern Stars. An integral part of the cricket landscape, Australia is blessed with Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning wowing it at international level. Including these players in the base AND insert sets is a step forward in recognising that cricket embraces everyone and is our true national game. That boys and girls, men and women of all backgrounds are welcomed to play, support and watch cricket. Tap’n’play‘s aim is to encourage more women and girls to become card collectors; this not only embraces half the population that is often overlooked in a male dominated hobby, but also ‘grows the pie’. Having seen first hand boys and girls of all ages collecting Woolworths Animal Cards, it’s a smart move from Tap’n’play to encourage the ladies to jump on in with this release.
Tap’n’play are serious about the hobby and confess they aren’t afraid of trying new things for collectors. They have a number of exciting projects in the pipeline, including securing match worn items to use in up-coming releases. They have an ‘open door policy’ and love feedback, which can be sent via their Facebook page and through various online forums, so they can understand their market place, improve their products and provide top notch releases that everyone will want to collect. I have already made a few suggestions: cross promotions with CA and their sponsors (KFC, CBA) leading to ‘prize cards’ for match day experiences, or exclusive prize cards (a set of KFC blinking bails from a BBL match anybody?), seeded in production runs might be a winner; or barcodes on the cards that can be slipped in to a reader for a snippet of advice from said player – who wouldn’t want Mitchell Johnson telling you how to bowl at 150km/hour? Not sure if they’ll take me up on the ‘bubblegum’ idea though…ha!
With an online and print media advertising campaign about to start, you can be sure Tap’n’play will be front and centre in the minds of all kids – big and small – once the cards hit the shelves.
Now down to the nitty gritty. RRP per pack will be $3.99. 10 cards per pack, 26 packs per box and 14 boxes per case. Available at newsagents, hobby shops, trading card outlets and direct from the Tap’n’play website - www.tapnplay.net. Tap’n’play see this initial release as a bit of a throwback – a large base set, plenty of inserts for value and hunting down and at a price that is affordable to all collectors.
I wish Tap’n’play all the very best for their first cricket release. From what I have seen thus far, it looks exciting and the ‘teaser’ releases on Facebook have whet the appetite. Make sure you visit both Tap’n’play or ASCC (http://www.asccmag.com ) for all the latest updates.
Which brings me back full circle. Yep…a long hot summer, watching cricket and busting packs of Tap’n’play cricket cards…what’s not to love! Oh I don’t like Tap’n’play cricket cards…I love them!!!
Chris Lauchlan
The post EXCLUSIVE REVIEW: Tap ‘n’ Play 2014/15 Cricket appeared first on Australian Sports Card Collector Magazine.
