Seven of Shepparton’s gun cricketers are plying their trade with the Duke ball this winter, with the majority playing throughout the midlands of the United Kingdom.
Matches started in late April, meaning most of the Goulburn Valley’s cricketing exports have already played a few matches at their overseas clubs.
Shepparton United captain Sam Nash, who plays for Ripley Cricket Club in Surrey, recently discovered that he would be playing against a familiar name.
The Shepperton Cricket Club.
In the match against his hometown’s (near) namesake, Nash was able to produce his best performance yet for Ripley with the willow (23 runs off 29 balls batting at number six) and the ball (1-22 from eight overs) while opening the bowling.
Tatura gun Mick Archer has played seven matches for his club, Farnsfield, and has dominated, taking 19 wickets (best figures of 5-28), while also scoring 181 runs from six innings, with a high score of 67.
Fellow Tatura man Jayden Armstrong has taken five wickets in five games for his club Congleton.
Karramomus’ Lachlan Keady has been busy with the ball for his club Formby, taking nine wickets across six games, with best figures of 3-38.
Numurkah batter Dylan Grandell made a tidy 68 in a friendly match for his club Chessington, while Shepparton United’s Joe Hammond has made 84 runs from five innings (top score of 37) for his club Robertsbridge.
Mooroopna wicketkeeper Ben Woods has made a steady start for his club Ben Rhydding, taking seven catches behind the stumps.
The United Kingdom’s cricket season usually runs from late April through to mid-late September.
Goulburn Valley cricketers in the UK
Shepparton United’s Sam Nash (Ripley CC) and Joe Hammond (Robertsbridge CC), Numurkah’s Dylan Grandell (Chessington CC), Tatura’s Mick Archer (Farnsfield CC) and Jayden Armstrong (Congleton CC), Karramomus’ Lachlan Keady (Formby CC) and Mooroopna’s Ben Woods (Ben Rhydding CC).