Premier Cricket: Casey South Melbourne bolsters stocks with ‘destructive’ bat

A “destructive” batter has walked back into Premier Cricket, ready to lift a contender. Here are the details.

Matt Calder left a strong impression during his Premier Cricket cameo last summer.

It’s not every day a “destructive” batter with a competition average of 167 walks in.

Casey South Melbourne has wasted no time in gearing up for another tilt at the Victorian Premier Cricket premiership with the commitment of blazing bat Matt Calder.

Calder, who made an eye-grabbing cameo during the season, has committed to the Swans full time.

The 24-year-old struck an unbeaten 103 off 54 balls against Ringwood before 64 off 51 against Frankston Peninsula in a T20 double-header in January.

Matt Calder is now a Swan. (AAP Image / Julian Andrews)

Calder played at Mosman in New South Wales with Swans’ skipper Luke Shelton, who is rapt with his side’s latest addition.

“It’s really exciting for us – and the whole competition I suppose – to get a good, young and exciting cricketer down to Melbourne,” Shelton said.

“I played a lot of cricket with Matty when he was 17, 18 and have seen him grow and develop in those years — he’s always had a super amount of talent.

“We’re pretty happy to have him at the age of 24 with his best cricket in front of him.”

Calder leaves the field after his debut ton.

He returned to Mosman and finished the NSW Grade Cricket season with 409 runs at an impressive strike rate of 91.

While he has shown his worth against the white ball, Shelton believes the dasher has plenty to offer in the longer format too.

“He’s a pretty destructive white-ball player, he’s always been that way, but I think he’s got so much upside with his red-ball batting,” he said.

“We have to make sure we get him in the right spot because I reckon he’s the sort of guy if he walks out to bat in session two or after tea, bowlers won’t be too happy.”

Shelton says the Swans will “see what’s out there” but are comfortable with their current squad.

Originally published as Premier Cricket: Casey South Melbourne bolsters stocks with ‘destructive’ bat