With a week to acclimatise, Welsh speedster Joe Monk was all ready to play his debut match with Woodend Cricket Club on Saturday … but the adverse weather intervened.
The 27-year-old Monk and partner Ashlyn are already excited about spending the next year ‘Down Under’ — it’s something of a working holiday with priority being the next six months involved with the local cricket club, then months to explore various parts of Australia.
Monk comes to Woodend after playing the past two seasons with Oswestry Cricket Club in the Shropshire League.
The Oswestry CC is across the border around six kilometres from Monk’s home town of Welshpool; he works as a transport planner.
The Shropshire competition does not have finals, and Monk collected 29 wickets in the just completed season.
He and Ashlyn have found Woodend Cricket Club very welcoming, with some local similarities to what they have been used to back home.
They are residing in a quiet rural locality at Spring Hill, and have an essential car to explore Macedon Ranges surrounds and beyond.
The cricket club is staging a ‘Welcome Dinner’ for them this weekend.
Monk is familiar with the type of overcast, drizzly weather that curtailed the Gisborne District Cricket Association’s opening round on Saturday.
He just wants to be able unleash the new ball at some opposition batters, hopefully beginning with Sunbury Kangaroos this Saturday.
Before the start of the A-grade match against Macedon at Gilbert Gordon Oval, he was presented with a new baggy green WCC cap by Kevin Sullivan, a ‘Living Legend’ who chalked up a record 360 games with the club.
Sullivan turned the clock back reminiscing briefly on how nervous he was playing his first senior game with Woodend, in the company of such ‘greats’ as Peter Barker, Jim Godden and Harold Richardson.
Another Woodend recruit this season is young left-arm fast bowler Harrison Sheahan, who attends university and formerly made an impact with Kyneton Cricket Club and representative sides.
Just under six overs were played, with Woodend openers Xavier Tadd and Marcus Stewart compiling 0/40 in good style.
Rain stopped play, and teasingly lightened off at times, but not enough to prevent the umpires having to eventually call the match off.
West Indian import Alex Browne, who’s debut with Macedon was flagged in last week’s Express, was also denied a chance to show his talents on Saturday.
