Shearer Ben Strachan, Orana Outlaws in Regional Big Bash finals spot chase

This cricketer’s love for the game has taken him from sheep shearing on an outback property to playing and coaching overseas. Now he’s hoping it will take him to the SCG.

Ben Strachan playing for the Orana Outlaws back in 2015.

So dedicated is this former sheep shearer to the game he has loved since he was a boy he’s never batted an eyelid about doing a nine-hour round trip to play the game.

Ben Strachan did this for years, driving from his family property out the back of Bourke to Dubbo for weekend games.

On Sunday, Strachan faces a much shorter drive from Dubbo, where he is now studying early childhood care, to Bathurst where he and his Orana Outlaws teammates will play for a spot in the Plan B Big Bash regional titles.

Both the men’s and women’s Orana Outlaws teams will take on Illawarra Flames in the final Thunder pool match on Sunday for a spot in the Regional Bash final at the SCG at a date still to be determined.

Ben Strachan playing for the Orana Outlaws at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“I’ve played for Orana three times in the past and in that period we made the semi-final, won the second year and got beaten in final the third year,’’ said the middle order batsman and opening bowler.

“A few of us older guys have come back, come out of retirement try and made the SCG.

“It’s a big deal for the players. It means a lot to the players to get the SCG.’’

Strachan, who played and coached cricket in Scotland each year between 2012 and 2018, is now back in the NSW country permanently and back playing for the Outlaws and the Macquarie Cricket Club in Dubbo.

The family sheep property at Bourke. Pic: Supplied

Based in Dubbo while studying, the 36-year-old said he still returns to his family property around 120km from Bourke to help out during shearing season.

“I’ll be back there on the 11th when the shearing starts again to help out.’’ he said.

“My shearing days are over, we get a team in nowadays and we have about 3000 sheep.

“We are a little understocked. We normally carry 7000 to 9000 when we have a good season.

“But we haven’ had many good seasons recently.’’

The crowd in the members' pavilion AT THE SCG during the third Test match between Australia and New Zealand in January.

The SCG is hallowed ground for sports lovers.

Strachan said his father passed on his love of cricket to he and his brothers.

“My father played cricket for a little town called Louth and I started playing my junior cricket there,’’ he said.

‘‘When I was 11 I started playing in the senior team, not doing much, just fielding and batting at 11. But I just love it.

“I still love my cricket.’’

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