Locals’ turn to play
All-rounder set to shine at GMHBA
DAN Harris didn’t get the chance to attend either of the two Melbourne Renegades BBL games at GMHBA Stadium.
But he isn’t any less excited about playing on the ground tomorrow in the GCA3 Geelong Advertiser Twenty20 Cup grand final against Bannockburn.
Harris will have the honour of being part of the first local game played inside the stadium in more than 20 years — and Alexander Thomson’s resident Englishmen cannot wait.
“I’m very excited,” Harris said.
“It’s a real honour for me to play on a ground like that, I can’t wait. Hopefully we get the ‘W’ because we’ve had a really good T20 season so far.
“It’s going to be fantastic, especially with a bit of an AT crowd coming along as well.
“It’s going to be nerve-racking, but at the same time I’ve got to do my job and hope for the best.”
The all-rounder has starred for AT this summer on his first visit Down Under, leading the Vikings run-scorers’ list with more than 300 at an average of 35, while also claiming 25 wickets at an average of just 10.
He will have a big role to play tomorrow. The stylish lefthanded batsman occupies the important position of No.5 or No.6 and often opens the bowling under T20 captain Jack Clapham.
“We’re very confident, especially against Bannockburn,” Harris said.
“We didn’t beat them in the two-dayer but we’re top of the ladder for a reason. I don’t think anyone can stop us if we’re at our best.”
Armed with the extra responsibility thrust upon him by AT, the Nottingham-based allrounder has flourished in Australian conditions, passing 50 three times this season.
“Over in England I’m a bowling all-rounder, but here I’m a batting all-rounder because the pitches are a lot harder and you don’t get those green, sludgy wickets you do back home,” he said.
“Some of the pitches we’ve had have been brilliant to bat on all day — it does something with the new ball and then spins a bit later on.
“I’ve developed my game around staying around as long as I can and getting as many runs as I can for the team, and keep wickets in the hutch so we can explode in those final 10 (overs).
“It’s made me more mature in a batting sense.”
Arriving at Highton Reserve largely thanks to Peter Caufield and a teammate back in England who had played in Geelong previously, Harris believes the Vikings are a “brilliant club” and is unequivocal when asked if he’ll return.
“Definitely. It’s been amazing, and the club have been amazing,” he said. Geelong v Kingston Hawthorn
North Geelong v East Belmont; Grovedale v Bell Post Hill; Lara v St Joseph’s; Newtown & Chilwell v South Barwon; Geelong City v Leopold
St Peter’s v Manifold Heights; Bell Park v Marshall; Murgheboluc v Thomson; Torquay v Highton
Teesdale v St Albans Breakwater; Newcomb & District v Geelong West; GuildSaints v Alexander Thomson; Modewarre v Waurn PondsDeakin; Bannockburn v Corio
Drysdale v Jan Juc; Anglesea v Barrabool; Portarlington v Collendina; Ocean Grove v Barwon Heads
Little River v Wallington; Winchelsea v Ocean Grove; Newcomb v Queenscliff; Inverleigh v St Leonards LG: Yeah, we’ve been up here for about 15 years now. LG: That’s nice of him. It’s nice to be mentioned in that regard, but I don’t put tickets on myself. People up here don’t even know that I played cricket because I don’t talk about it. LG: I had a great year. I played in ’80-81 and that was my first season at Thomson, and including finals, I took 40 (wickets). I got cricketer of the year (Jack Sing Medal) in my first year in the GCA. I think I beat Colin Corstorphin by one vote. That year, Gary and I played against New Zealand, who were touring, and that capped off a pretty good year for me in turf cricket. LG: I got Bruce Edgar, I got Geoff Howarth first ball and he was the New Zealand captain and Lance Cairns. LG: That’s right. I only got one wicket, Mansoor Akhtar. LG: No, when I played in the Bellarine I took 14 for the match. LG: I was great friends with Gary Anderton and he was coaching down there. At the same time I got a letter from Ken Davis to go to Newtown. I went to one training session and they were running around the golf course and I thought “this is different”. I’d been mates with Gary for years and they’d picked up some good players, so that persuaded me. AO: You won two second XI flags at Thomson, but the highlight of your career must’ve been the flag in 86-87? LG: It was a great win. Everyone wants to win a Division 1 premiership and it was Thomson’s first ever. I think I got three wickets and Gary got five.