ROVERS United Bruck A grade co-captain Paddy McNamara is ready to rip into the local cricket season after plying his trade overseas during the offseason.
Known for his challenging left-arm pace and determination with the willow, McNamara this year looks to have added another string to his cricketing bow after spending the English summer at Hursley Park CC in Hampshire.
Playing in the First XI squad, McNamara soon found the English conditions to his favour, regularly taking wickets and producing a slew of impressive scores with bat in hand, with multiple club MVP nods.
A standout performance was a handy 60 and 3/17 against South Wilts II, as well as figures of 3/30 to help his side win the Tichborne Trophy T20 final.
McNamara said the standard of cricket was very familiar to him, and he was soon able to make an impact.
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“Over there, the batting is probably a bit better than back home, but the bowling’s a standard below the WDCA,” he said.
“It was definitely a different experience because in Australia you can set a field and if you bowl a good ball and someone plays a good shot, it’s a single - if you bowl a good ball and someone plays a good shot in the UK, it’s four.
“In the UK the grounds are pretty small and the outfields are lightning-fast so you go for a lot more runs as a bowler, whereas vice versa when you’re batting the grounds are smaller and outfields are lightning so you’re making more runs and get value for shots.”
With his beloved Hawks looking to improve from their silver medal finish in both last season’s one- and two-day seasons, McNamara said his batting had taken a massive step up.
“I improved my batting a lot over there, so I’m really looking forward to coming back,” he said.
“I think I’ve always been the type of batter that’s been happy with a 30 but I got a fair few 50+ scores over there.
“I learned I can take it to the next level with runs and try and put a few more runs on the board than I have in previous years back home, so I’m looking forward to that.
“With the Duke ball, I kind of struggled early in the season when I was bowling, and since I’ve been back I’ve had a few bowls – once I got the Kookaburra back in the hand I felt really good.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how my batting can progress after a pretty good season over there.”
Rovers United Bruck’s A grade side commence their season where the last one ended, up against Yarrawonga Mulwala on Saturday, October 12.
