North Ballarat Roosters’ English duo, Matthew Skeemer and Tom Phillippe, top the list when comparing the fortunes of this season’s imports.
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North Ballarat may sit on the bottom of the ladder, but it’s two Englishmen have adapted well to the foreign conditions and cemented themselves in the first XI line-up.
The Roosters’ only victory of the season came against premiership contender Wendouree in round three and Skeemer led the charge with a dominant display.
Skeemer helped dismiss the Red Caps for 128 by taking 5-21 and then came to the crease with the side at 3-28, before making 75 valuable runs and guiding the side to victory.
He is averaging 22 for the season and is one of just five bowlers to have taken 10 or more wickets so far.
While Phillippe has found it difficult at the top of the order in the regular competition, he has excelled in the twenty20 format.
He is the second highest run-scorer, only behind East Ballarat’s Harry Ganley, with 140 runs from his three matches.
Two big knocks of 83 not out and 50 have left him with an impressive average of 70 at the completion of the twenty20 competition.
Brown Hill’s Joe Crichard has been a great addition to the Bulls middle-order. The Englishmen’s consistency has been a feature of his performances so far, making it to double figures on every occasion with a high score of 58.
Crichard, who is averaging 31 runs at first grade level, dominated in his second grade match against North Ballarat in round four when Brown Hill had the bye. He smashed 144 runs as the Bulls hammered the Roosters by 262 runs.
Ladder leader Darley have also benefited for the inclusion of Sri Lankan Hasitha Wickramasinghe. The all-rounder has worked his way into the season with his best match coming in the Lions final round against Brown Hill. Wickramasinghe made 36 runs and took 5-43 to give him an average of 19.5 with the bat and nine wickets for the season – he is sure to play a big role in the second half of the season.
Another man who will play a big part for his team after the main break is Golden Point’s Tamar Lambert. Lambert has not had the same luxury of fellow recruits, having only arrived in Australia a fortnight ago. But the former Jamaican national captain is excited to stamp himself on the BCA first grade and have an immediate impact.
Naps-Sebas’ Englishmen Callum Honeyman played his best match for the club against Mt Clear in the final round before Christmas and will hoping to continue that form.
Cricket season returns on January 7.
