A year after walking away from local cricket to play in the stronger Dubbo competition, Mudgee, Mitchell and Western Zone representatives Steven Knight and James O’Brien have returned.

The pair will grace the cricket fields in Mudgee for the 2014-15 season and they are excited to be back playing.

They have both committed themselves to play representative cricket for Mudgee in the President’s Cup, Country Shield and Western Premier League competitions.

O’Brien has signed on to play for the McDonald Lawson Bulls and Knight is expected to go with his former team and defending premiers Woolpack Hotel.

O’Brien’s inclusion in the Bulls will give the team a massive boost as they qualified for the semi-finals in their first year playing in the division one competition.

“I am really looking forward to this season,” O’Brien said.

“It was good to play in Dubbo but it is always better to play in your home comp. Everyone is pleased; it is like I have never left.”

O’Brien and Knight played in the Dubbo competition and lined up for the association in representative matches because they were after a challenge.

Their decision a year ago was “nothing personal” according to Knight.

“I’ve been heavily involved in Mudgee cricket for a number of years and I just needed a change,” Knight said in the Mudgee Guardian on September 30, 2013. “I thought it would be a good opportunity.”

O’Brien said he enjoyed his time in Dubbo last season.

“Playing in Dubbo is what I wanted to do,” O’Brien said.

“I learned more about the game.”

But it was the opportunity to play in their home town again and with their mates that lured O’Brien and Knight back.

“Personally I think it is going to be a great year,” O’Brien said. 

“I am mainly looking forward to playing for Mudgee and representing Mitchell again.”

Mudgee had an incredible 2013-14 season at the representative level with the side making the final of the under 21s and President’s Cup competitions.

With the inclusion of O’Brien, Knight, possibly Ben Reynolds and former Sydney Grade cricketer William Lindsay, who has moved to the region for work, Mudgee will have competitive representative team.

“It’s fairly exciting. We will have one of the strongest teams in the Zone as well,” O’Brien said.

“Eddy [Jacob Edmonds] did a great job last year [captaining the team] and there is plenty of talent coming through.”