MPCA: English first-class cricketer Ian Cockbain to play with Langwarrin

A power-hitting batsman currently playing alongside Jonny Bairstow in The Hundred in England has signed with Langwarrin.

Ian Cockbain hits out for Gloucestshire. Picture: thecricketer.com

He hits straight and long.

And powerful English batsman Ian Cockbain is expected to make a sledgehammer impact when he pads up with Langwarrin in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association this summer.

In the recruiting coup of the off-season, the Gloucestershire 34-year-old signed with the Kangaroos after months of negotiations.

Cockbain is currently playing for Welsh Fire in The Hundred tournament in England, alongside England star Jonny Bairstow and Brisbane Heat big hitter Tom Banton.

Overnight, he cracked 12 not out off seven balls, including a six, in the Fire’s first-up victory at Leeds. He batted at number six and came in at the 90th ball.

Last month Cockbain blazed 72 off 46 balls, with 4 sixes, for Gloucestershire in a Twenty20 game.

Ian Cockbain with his wife Amy.

Langwarrin vice-president Gary Rees said Cockbain’s addition was “massive” for the Kangaroos.

“He’s putting balls out of the stadium,” Rees said.

“It will be huge for Langy, it will be massive for us.

“He’s going to be as good a cricketer as anyone playing in our comp.”

Rees added: “He’s currently smashing the ball around against international cricketers and in two months he will be running around for Langwarrin.’’

Cockbain has played 57 first-class games for Gloucestershire, scoring five centuries and 2684 runs, at 30.

He’s scored over 3300 runs for Gloucs in T20 cricket.

Cockbain will be available for the start of the MPCA season in October and Langwarrin intends to fully utilise his experience.

“It’s really exciting for the club, the comp and the community,” Langwarrin club president Matt Reddaway said.

“He will be sharing his knowledge with our kids, our juniors, helping with junior training nights, assisting our junior coaches and being an elite figure for all to look up to and admire closer than ever before.”

Cockbain will also captain Langy’s T20 side.

“He’s captained Gloucestershire in T20,’’ Rees said.

“Our players will learn a lot off him.”

Ian Cockbain will play all forms for Langwarrin and also captain its T20 side.

Australia is like a second home to Cockbain.

His wife, Amy, is Australian and he has extensive experience playing in Australia, in district and club cricket in Melbourne and in Adelaide.

Born in Liverpool, he started playing cricket with Bootle CC, before moving up to play for Lancashire’s 2nd XI, where he was picked for the MCC Young Cricketers XI in 2008.

He transferred to Gloucestershire in 2010.

Cockbain joins an impressive batch of recruits for Langwarrin.

Champion MPCA batsman Chris Brittain signed with the Kangaroos in March, and former Mordialloc skipper Dylan Campbell and Frankston YCW all-rounder Stuart Plunkett followed.

Langwarrin has lost several players from its semi-final side of last season, with Jayde Herrick crossing to Springvale South, Tom Hussey returning to Tooradin, Riley Davie joining his brother Matt at Somerville and Andrew Smith going to Seaford.

Langwarrin will be coached by star leg spinner-batsman Matt Prosser in 2021-22.