Wright’s ready to live English cricket dream
SOUTHPORT and Birkdale’s new signing, Mac Wright, admits that he will be fulfilling a dream when he spends next summer playing ECB Premier League cricket at Trafalgar Road.
The recruitment of the 19-year-old Tasmanian all-rounder was only confirmed last week when he was representing his state in the national championships at Adelaide, but Wright made time to speak to the Visiter about the move.
“I can’t wait to get over for an English summer,” he said.
“It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid to play cricket in England, so I am very keen to get over there.”
“I’ve heard mixed things about the English conditions but I really think the wickets will give me a great opportunity for me to improve my batting.
“Most people have told me there is a bit of juice in the pitches, so the ball may move around a bit.
“I’ve also heard that they are not so conducive to spin but again, that depends on who I’ve talked to really. All in all, I think the conditions will provide an opportunity to put my batting and bowling to the test and I am really looking forward to that.”
It is hoped that Wright will arrive in time to play in one or two warm-up games before the Premier League season gets under way on April 22 when Southport and Birkdale host Rainhill.
However the Tasmanian will certainly join a long list of overseas players, some of whom later became Test cricketers, who had their first experience of overseas conditions on Merseyside.
“I don’t know a whole lot about the Liverpool Competition,” said Wright, “but I have heard from a few cricketers who have played in England, that it is one of the stronger leagues in the country.
“For my part I would simply love to spend as much time as I can in the middle.
“There’s no substitute for match practice so trying to enhance my batting and spend long periods of time in the middle is a main aim.
“I would also like to bowl as much as I can and improve my control so that I can contribute as best as I can to Southport and Birkdale winning as many games as possible. I’m really looking forward to the different playing conditions and a new challenge for my cricket, but also to the incredible life experience of living in a foreign country and meeting new people.”
Although Wright has been awarded a rookie contract with Tasmania this Australian summer and has played for ACT Comets, he learned much of his cricket at Canberra’s Weston Creek Molongo club.
Southport and Birkdale wishes to place on record its thanks to both Cade Brown and Chris Burgess from WCMCC for helping facilitate Wright’s move to England.
Chris made the original recommendation and Cade acted as go-between when Wright was in Tasmania.