It’s funny how things come in circles.
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Fifteen years ago, Josh Cheney was inspired by Australian spinner Colin “Funky” Miller to become an off-spin bowler.
“I thought the funky hair was pretty cool so I started slowing down and bowling spin and 15 something years later here I am,” he said, laughing.
The regular thirds captain dyed his hair pink two weeks ago, and this weekend will only be his second game with the new ‘do, but it’s paid dividends for him so far.
He took four wickets last week as City cruised to a win over Waratahs in third grade, but this week he’ll be walking out in firsts against Kinross at the school.
“Maybe the ball hides in the hair … anything to take their mind off what they should be doing,” he said.
Anything to take their mind off what they should be doing.
- Josh Cheney
He’s yet to have anyone back away from the crease laughing, a la Curtly Ambrose facing up to Miller in 2001.
As for the reason to change the hair? Was it to channel his inner Funky?
“It’s a conversation starter?” he offered, laughing.
“Mate I don’t know, I was bored, there was no story, no nothing I was just bored.”
In doing so, he’s the first person in a long while – if ever – to don pink hair in the Orange District Cricket Association first grade.
Cheney is no stranger to first grade, having played “heaps of games” in every division since he started – and he’s been playing “forever”.
With Orange City’s exodus at the end of last season’s three grade clean-sweep, he’s expecting to plug a few holes in any team he’s needed across 2018-19, and doesn’t have a problem with it.
“It’s more of a rebuild after a lot of blokes have moved on so there’s a lot of opportunity there for the younger guides,” he said.
“I’ll play wherever I’m picked, the club needs a few people to step up so I’ll play wherever.”
Orange City play Kinross at Kinross Main Oval from 1pm on Saturday.
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