LIST THE BEST GCA IMPORTS OF ALL TIME
We list have of the assembled greatest imports some of in local GCA cricket’s history. legendary Brad Stacey, figures Peter to Quick, uncover Chris the Bambury, Rod Kiddle, Grant Dew, Justin Brown, Gary Anderton and Garry Barmby enjoyed a frothy or two as they reminisced about the players who arrived on our shores and left an indelible make on the competition. With the help of GCA historian Kevin O’Dowd, Addy chief cricket writer ALEX OATES and his band of GCA greats compiled the top 10 of all time. 1. RICHIE OLIVER
(Geelong City/ England) 3389 runs at 51.3
Fittingly, the No. 1 foreigner in the land. A crisp ball striker, Oliver spent eight years as a professional in England club cricket, “bashing the door down” in the hope of attracting a county contract. He did that, forging a fine career at Worcestershire. Since then, the Sharks captain and inspirational leader has spent his year at home and abroad, leading City here and plying his trade for Shropshire back home.
2. CHRIS YOUNG
(Grovedale/England) 213 wickets at 15 Few cricketers have a finals record like lively paceman Young. With a stack of five-wicket hauls, most of which have come in finals, the Grovey quick will go down as one of the best imports to hit our shores. And he’s not done yet, with a third-straight premiership on offer.
3. MATT LINEKER
(East Belmont/England) 2579 runs at 40.3 Lineker played in the Second XI Trophy for both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and has performed consistently in the ECB Premier League in recent years, scoring 800 runs in 20 innings at 44.44, including two centuries. One of the longest serving imports, Lineker continues to carve out a stellar career at Winter Reserve.
4. DANIEL LAWRENCE
(Newtown & Chilwell/England) 586 runs at 42.8 Lawrence left a mark in his brief but brilliant career for the Two Blues, dominating attacks when he came out as a 17-year-old in 2014. He has been regarded as one of the most promising batsmen in England since the day he became the thirdyoungest batsman to make a Championship century when he struck 161 for Essex against Surrey at The Oval in 2015. Watch this space.
5. JORDAN CLARK
(Newtown & Chilwell/England) 391 runs at 43.4; 30 wickets at 15.9 A powerful striker and useful seam bowler, Clark is currently cutting his teeth for Lancashire. He produced arguably the greatest season by an import last season before being lured to Old Trafford. Subsequently, his brother Graham filled his shoes at Queens Park.
6. BRAD PATTON
(Grovedale/New Zealand) 1512 runs at 38.6 Brad Patton made a relatively late entry into first-class cricket, his first game came a decade ago at the age of 27, according to Cricinfo, though he had played at the under-19 level for New Zealand. He started his first-class career with a duck, but has since developed into a useful batsman. He played a handful of seasons with the Tigers, making a truckload of runs.
7. GREG HOLMES
(Murgheboluc/England) 507 runs at 36.2 He is a right-hand batsman and rightarm medium bowler. He made his first-class debut for Cardiff against Hampshire. He played one season for the Frogs and also represented the GCA at Country Week last season.
8. GARY YATES
(South Barwon/England) 621 runs at 27; 38 wickets at 20.3 Yates was a talented off-spinner who played for Lancashire from 1989 to 2004, taking 184 first-class wickets. He spent two years at South Barwon, netting runs and wickets before returning home to continue in the coaching sphere.
9. STEVE SYLVESTER
(Lara/England) 117 runs at 9; 66 wickets at 19.2 Sylvester was a right-handed batsman who bowled left-arm fast-medium. He played 22 matches for the Cats. Played County cricket through the 1990s.
10. DAREN FOSTER
(Geelong West/England) 39 wickets at 25.1 Foster was a tall, slim right-arm fastmedium bowler with a whippy bowling action and a tail-end right-handed batsman. In a short career for Geelong West, Foster produced startling figures of 9-65, including a hat-trick in 1988-89 against St Joseph’s. HONOURABLE MENTIONS (In no particular order): GRAHAM CLARK (Newtown & Chilwell/England) 371 runs at 53. 13 wickets at 14.5. JON KETTLE (Thomson/East Belmont/ England) 352 at 25.1 MICHAEL CHADWICK (Thomson/England) 23 wickets at 10.7. JONATHAN BENNETT (Murgheboluc/ England) 225 runs at 25. 21 wickets at 20. JONATHAN CARPENTER (Newtown & Chilwell/England) 306 runs at 30.6. 17 wickets at 28.6. MICHAEL COOMBER (Newtown & Chilwell/England) 347 at 26.7. 14 wickets at 26.5. JACK HUGHES (North Geelong/England) 43 wickets at 18.5. 382 runs at 18.1. GREG MIKE (Highton/England) 292 runs at 26.5. 15 wickets at 22.4 MATT CHURCH (Bell Post Hill/England) 87 runs at 17.4. CHARLIE LAMB (St Peter’s/England) 139 runs at 9.9. 55 wickets at 17.6. ELDINE BAPTISTE (Geelong City/West Indies) 151 runs at 25.2. 7 wickets at 27.7. DIVISION 2 (Limited stats available) Adam Hollioake, D.S De Silva, Tom New, Richard Stanyon (Newcomb & District/England) 92 wickets at 12.11, Chris Lewis, Mike Jones (Torquay/ Scotland) 685 runs at 68.50.