THERE’S a steady flow of the Orange District Cricket Association’s best players headed for bigger things in the cricketing world – and they’re all choosing the Sydney Grade Cricket competition as a springboard to get them there.
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And they’ve all started the summer in reasonable form.
Having been in Sydney now for several seasons, former Cavaliers quick Matty White is leading the charge, his first wicket of the summer that of Test wicketkeeper Peter Neville.
The right-arm paceman was a member of Cavs’ first grade premiership winning side in 2009, and has since had the new ball thrown his way with club side Manly-Warringah Cricket Club.
In two first grade games to date, White has pinched figures of 3-32 and 1-50 for Manly, while he snared 2-45 in a second grade clash against Bankstown on October 1.
White was named as a marquee player for the Central West Wranglers this season, but wasn’t able to play in their round one loss against Orana.
Former Orange City Warriors’ quick Josh Bennett was in the same boat.
Named by Central West but unavailable for the opener, Bennett will now have to continue to roll the arm over for club side University of NSW.
The same club former Kinross quick Chris Tremain bowled at when he moved to Sydney, UNSW has turned to Bennett to open the bowling in each of its three first grade games to begin the summer.
Bennett has bowled without luck, taking best figures of 1-34 in round one against Northern Districts and went wicket-less against Penrith and Gordon.
Another former Cavs quick, Liam Gough has been playing second grade with Western Suburbs to start the summer.
The former Western Zone opening bowler has bowled his left-arm swing economically, without taking a wicket – his 0-12 off seven overs against Randwick-Petersham highlighting Gough’s ability to tie up an end.
In his first year out of the ODCA top grade, former Kinross’ Charlie Litchfield hasn’t taken long to settle into his new club, Sydney University.
Litchfield whacked his first half-century in the opening round of the Poidevin-Gray Shield against Bankstown, smashing 56 coming in at number three.