Former Hobart Hurricanes fast bowler Aaron Summers has made a personal appearance in the Supreme Court of Tasmania, facing serious historical child sex charges. The 29-year-old athlete, who now lives in Perth, was extradited from the Northern Territory earlier this year.
Serious Allegations and Court Proceedings
The charges against Summers relate to alleged incidents in Hobart on January 16, 2018, when he was part of the Hurricanes' Big Bash League roster. He stands accused of penetrative sexual abuse of a child or young person and grooming with the intent to expose a young person to indecent material.
Summers has previously pleaded not guilty to both charges in the Hobart Magistrates Court. His lawyer, Caroline Graves, requested that future court appearances be conducted via phone or videolink, given both Summers and his surety now reside in Western Australia.
Legal Delays and Case Management
The case has experienced significant delays, including an '11th-hour' disclosure of evidence earlier this year that required extensive review. This late evidence submission pushed back proceedings, with Ms Graves stating it would take up to four weeks to examine properly.
The matter has been adjourned until March 11 for further proceedings. Magistrate Andrew McKee has indicated the case could be committed to the Supreme Court of Tasmania for trial.
Cricket Career and Personal Background
Aaron Summers' cricket career, though brief, was notable for his exceptional pace. He played one Big Bash game for the Hobart Hurricanes in late 2017 and three one-day matches for Tasmania after his 2018 debut.
In a 2020 interview with The Cricketer magazine, Summers spoke about his signature speed: 'I know I've got a desirable talent: I'm one of the quickest blokes going around the world... That's my point of difference.' His pace was clocked as faster than established stars like Jofra Archer and Tymal Mills during Hurricanes training.
Summers also made history as the first foreign player to participate in Pakistan's revamped domestic cricket competition in 2020. The fast bowler was extradited from Darwin to Tasmania in April and remains on bail as the legal process continues.
