Cricket Southern Bayside: former Tasmanian fast bowler joins Bentleigh

What a boost for Bentleigh Cricket Club, securing former Tasmanian fast bowler and Victorian Premier Cricket Ryder Medal star Brendan Drew.

What a lifter for Bentleigh.

The Demons today confirmed they had signed former Tasmanian paceman and Victorian Premier Cricket star Brendan Drew for the 2019-20 Cricket Southern Bayside Championship season.

As captain and coach of Camberwell Magpies, Drew won the Ryder Medal in 2016-17 after grabbing 35 wickets and making 548 runs, including a helter-skelter 119 not out against Geelong.

He was with the Magpies from 2012-13 to 2017-18, playing 102 matches, hitting 2347 runs at 29.70 and claiming 134 wickets at 24.58.

In 2016-17 he helped Camberwell Magpies to its first club championship since 1988-89.

Now 35, Drew, originally from NSW, played 34 Sheffield Shield matches for Tasmania, the first in 2005 and the last in 2012.

There were also 51 One-Day and 19 T20 matches for the tall right-armer.

His best first-class figures of 6-94 came against WA.

Bentleigh skipper Rob Ciccarella said the club was chuffed to secure a player of Drew’s calibre.

Brendan Drew with Bentleigh senior pair Jarrod Dowling (left) and Rob Ciccarella.

He said Drew was living close to the Bentleigh ground and the Demons’ standing as a “good family club’’ appealed to him.

“First-class experience, fast bowling, top-order batting, he’s fantastic in all forms, wants to work with young players … he’ll bring a lot to the club, that’s for sure,’’ Ciccarella said.

“He’s played so much cricket, but he’s only 35 so hopefully he’ll be with us for a while.

“The big thing for Brendan was his family. He wanted to go to a club with a family environment, where he could bring his young son down to hang around with kids his age. That was a big selling point for him.’’

Ciccarella said Drew would have no official coaching or captaincy position but would naturally be seen as a leader.

“He just wants to play cricket and be part of the local cricket scene,’’ he said.

The Demons were the reigning premiers last season but struggled with the loss of key players and missed the finals.

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They also missed playing on their home ground due to the Bentleigh Reserve redevelopment.

Matches were transferred to Princes Park.

President Dave McNamara said Bentleigh appreciated the support of South Caulfield in getting through a difficult season.

The Demons have also recruited a UK all-rounder, top-order batsman and off-spinner Sam Johnson, and former South Caulfield player Max Howells.