IN a move he’s considered for a long time, former Orange City quick Josh Bennett will ply his trade in Sydney’s Grade Cricket competition in season 2015-16, linking with University of NSW.
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Bennett, a former NSW Country cricketer of the year, has been a mainstay in the ACT Comets’ Toyota Futures League side for the past two seasons, but made the decision to uproot and move to Sydney in his continued bid to forge a first-class career.
With more than half a dozen sides chasing his signature, Bennett said a short conversation with former Orange District Cricket Assocation cricketer of the year and now Victorian Sheffield Shield quick Chris Tremain swayed him to UNSW.
“Obviously Trem played there for a while, and he really recommended going to UNSW. I take his word pretty highly, so it helped me make the decision,” Bennett said.
“I’ve also played with Dave Dawson, who captains the UNSW side, and I know he rates me pretty highly. He suggested I go there as well. The chance to be coached by (former Australian Test quick) Geoff Lawson and (former NSW first-class batsman) Corey Richards was a drawcard as well, they’re both very accomplished coaches.”
Bennett will spearhead the Bumblebees’ attack this season, and is also expected to continue playing Futures League with the Comets - the ACT side draws from the Sydney Grade competition as well as its own.
“I’ve got an agreement there so I can still play with the Comets from Sydney, which is great,” Bennett said.
“It’s as much about making me as good a cricketer as I can be as it is about playing higher levels. Obviously I want to do that too though.”
Bennett, who has played in Newcastle and is a former Australian Country player, said his current situation was a far cry from the lanky quick who struggled to make his mark in the ODCA top grade, and found it even harder to get a gig in either Orange’s under 21 or open representative teams, just six years ago.
“I was thinking the other day about cricket, and that I hadn’t really given it the credit it deserved in terms of what it’s given me. More the mates I’ve made all over the place, and that kind of thing. I’ve come a long way, hopefully I can go a bit further,” he said.
