Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker and Tasmanian cricket great David Boon will swap the cricket field for the kitchen as they help raise funds for Tasmanians experiencing food insecurity.
The pair have signed on for OzHarvest’s CEO CookOff 2026, which will be held in Hobart for the first time next month.
They’ll joining leaders from across the state to cook and serve a three-course meal for more than 150 members of the community.
The event will see participants work alongside some of Australia’s leading chefs in a pop-up kitchen at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, while also putting their networks to work to raise funds for OzHarvest.
Every dollar raised helps OzHarvest provide two meals to people in need. For Baker, the opportunity to harness the reach of sport to support the Tasmanian community made saying yes an easy decision.
“We were delighted to be asked to be part of it,” Baker said.
“When you look at the stats and you look at the impact that can be made by activating our sporting networks and bringing some money in, 50 cents for a meal, raise $5000 and you’ve got 10,000 meals on the table.
“At a time when we're probably seeing more and more need for that in the community, Cricket Tasmania was delighted to be part of it, and I drew the short straw.”
While Baker may claim to have drawn the short straw, he is backing himself to be more help than hindrance once the aprons go on.
“I’m not too bad in the kitchen. I do my share at home. Those who have sampled the Baker hospitality will be expecting the lamb roast to roll out, I reckon,” he said.
“Anything with potatoes, that's my usual go-to.”
There will also be some sporting pride at stake, with former Richmond CEO and current Tasmania Football Club boss Brendon Gale among those taking part, alongside Richmond great Matthew Richardson.
Asked whether he had Gale covered in the kitchen, Baker was in little doubt.
“Absolutely. I'll have him covered,” he said. “He might get me on the spuds. He's from the northwest coast, so I mean that's all they eat up there.
“A bit of banter between him and Richo, and we'll try and drive as much and as many donations as we can to the cause.”
Boon, meanwhile, appears to have considerably more kitchen experience than his former Cricket Tasmania colleague might have hoped.
The former Australian Test opener said his answer was immediate when approached about taking part, particularly given the growing number of Tasmanians requiring food relief.
“I think at times in a state like ours, we can be quite naive about the difficulties that people can have if we don't see them visibly,” Boon said.
“So to be able to provide and raise some money to help, as Dom and the guys have outlined, two meals for every dollar, and what we're hoping to raise here will benefit those who are in need at the present moment in hard times.”
Boon said sport had an important role to play in bringing people together and supporting the wider community.
“Sport is very powerful. I think it brings everyone together, it shows that everybody cares,” he said.
“I've got a very good feeling about this being extremely successful and showing everyone that Tasmania can do it the best, with some of the best chefs, and I'm looking forward to working with them.”
One of Australian cricket’s most famous opening batters is also confident he can handle the heat of a commercial kitchen when the CEO CookOff takes place on Thursday October 29.
“The kitchen's okay. Since I retired, I do spend a lot of time in there and enjoy it,” Boon said.
“I'm looking forward to working with some chefs rather than making my own up.”
To find out more about the Hobart CEO CookOff or to donate to Dominic and David, visit https://www.ceocookoff.com.au/fundraisers/hobart.