Diggers opener in top form
CRICKET: It’s only his third A-grade season and Kane Bradford is in the best form of his playing career yet.
The Northern Brothers Diggers opening bowler scored a hat trick in a five-wicket haul in their first two-day match against Highfields Railways.
Then last weekend he backed up with the bat and scored a winning six off the last ball to win outright against University.
As the ball soared through the air Diggers players flooded onto the field making a beeline for their match-winning batsman.
“I’ve never felt anything like that before,” Bradford said.
“It almost felt like winning a grand final with everyone cheering.”
Bradford has only just recovered from partially tearing the rotator cuff in his shoulder while motorbike riding.
“It feels like it’s all just coming together and it’s my year,” he said.
“In the past couple of years the older boys have had their shine and this year has been my chance.”
The 19-year-old plays for Toowoomba in the Plunkett Cup and is hoping to get the call up in the Webb Shield team this year.
Diggers captain Blake Anderson believed Bradford wouldn’t be far off selection.
“He has performed very well for us. It would be good to see him push for representative duties,” Anderson said.
Diggers strike bowler Aiden Watterson left a big hole in the team after he moved to the Brisbane competition last season.
However Anderson said Bradford was the perfect fit.
“Kane has really come along and taken over the role of the leader of the pack,” he said.
“He works hard on his game and it’s good to see him reap the rewards.”
Diggers will now turn their attention to their next two-day game against Wests after this weekend’s bye round.
“We’re pretty confident going into the Wests game. It’s our biggest game of the year especially with some of the players they have,” Bradford said.
The talented young player is confident he can string together some more big performances for Diggers.
“I’ll be preparing and training hard and looking after myself,” he said.
In the future Bradford hopes to play in the Brisbane competition in the higher grades.
“I want to see what I can do with cricket and go as far as I can,” he said.