Prolific Caulfield batsman Peter Cross is playing his last match for the club

Caulfield is to farewell its brilliant batsman and three-time premiership player Peter Cross.

IT was a respectable delivery, outside off stump and moving away.

Caulfield batsman Peter Cross’s response? He leaned forward and creamed it through the covers for four.

“He likes them there,’’ Fielders great Jack Sheehan said as the ball fairly whistled to the fence.

“He likes them everywhere!’’ Les Quarrell shot back, cracking up spectators at the first-versus-second VSDCA match at Oakleigh in 2017-18.

Given that he made more than a century of centuries, Quarrell knows a thing or three about batting. And he rates Cross highly.

Peter Cross averages more than 40 for the Fielders.

Caulfield has had some fine batsmen in the past 10 years — Ricky Damiano, Matty Lawrence, Shaun Richardson, Leigh Baldry, Jacob Thorne and Graeme Rummans.

In terms of watchability, Quarrell says Cross is “as good as anyone we’ve ever had’’, admiring his range of strokes and his willingness to play them.

“He’s got the lot. Power. Timing. Shots on both sides of the wicket. He’s brilliant,’’ he said.

“I would have loved to see him play District cricket. He would have gone in and murdered them.

“He’s as good a player of the short ball as anyone I’ve ever seen in Subbies cricket. Loves the pull. The pull and the hook.’’

The left-hander has given Caulfield supporters a lot of pleasure and the club a lot of runs since he arrived from Sydney for reasons of “work and love’’ ahead of the 2011-12 season.

But his deeds are almost done. Cross and his young family are moving to the NSW central coast and he’s playing his last match for Caulfield in the next round, against Williamstown.

He said it would be a sad time, because he’d made a lot of friends at the club and it had been never less than welcoming to his family.

“I don’t know how I’ll be on my last day,’’ he said.

Cross played two seasons of grade cricket for Randwick in Sydney before heading to Melbourne. He was given the phone number of Caulfield’s Adam Warren, who had also been at Randwick.

Peter Cross will be missing as Caulfield pushes for a third consecutive premiership.

Cross considered playing Premier Cricket for St Kilda but was already 31 and so settled on the Fielders. It was their lucky day.

His first season was a dazzler: two centuries included in 558 runs, made at an average of 62, made from the opening slot and made at a good clip.

“I like to score runs,’’ he said. “It’s not my style to go out and block all day.’’

Quarrell remembers the 160 Cross hit against Moorabbin in his first season.

“It was amazing to watch,’’ he said.

Cross moved down the list a couple of years but has kept up his attacking ways.

A few weeks ago he auctioned his house and was late for the match against Taylor’s Lakes.

With no warm-up and probably thinking more about property prices than bowlers he slapped 70 off 51 balls, with 6 fours and 2 sixes.

He was no less destructive last week against Melton: 86 not out off 63 deliveries, with 9 fours and 3 sixes.

Richardson says Cross “demoralised’’ attacks, was “intimidating’’ to bowl to and estimates his strike rate at more than 80.

Ahead of Round 4 he had played 75 First XI matches, hitting 2695 runs at 40.83, with five centuries and 15 half-centuries. Cross figured in three Caulfield premierships, was in the VSDCA team of the year in 2011-12 and with Damiano holds the club’s second-wicket partnership record, 231.

Caulfield stalwart Geoff Reilley and Quarrell said Cross’s departure would be felt as the Fielders pushed for a third consecutive premiership.

Caulfield will miss him. But Subbies bowlers won’t. He liked them everywhere.