Sub-District cricket: Noble Park champion Issy Perera on the move

A Val Holten Medal recipient and seven-time club champion is departing the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.

Issy Perera sends one down for Noble Park. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Noble Park has lost the player widely considered to be the best cricketer to have represented it at Sub-District level.

Champion all-rounder Issy Perera has crossed to the Eastern Cricket Association’s Deepdene Bears, leaving a gaping hole in Noble’s batting and bowling.

The left-hand top-order batsman and leg-spinner joined Noble Park ahead of the 2010-11 season, recruited from Heatherton.

President Craig Ortland said he had contrasting emotions about Perera’s departure – disappointed he was going, but grateful for his long and decorated service.

Perera won a pile of awards in his 155-match career at Noble.

He was a seven-time club champion, scored 4596 runs (with a record five centuries), took 307 wickets, played in the 2013-14 premiership and was named in its 25-year team.

He also served as captain twice, and won the VSDCA Val Holten Medal in 2014-15.

Issy Perera goes driving.

“A great player, Issy, and he’s also become a very good mate as well,’’ Ortland said this morning.

“He’s a ripping bloke, and he’s been great for us and we’ve been very good for him.

“He brought players to the club, all the opposition clubs like playing against him, he’s well liked by everyone in Sub-District cricket.

“But he basically got an offer he couldn’t refuse and we wish him all the best. He’s always welcome back at Noble Park … hopefully he comes back and finishes his career with us.’’

Ortland said there was no doubt Perera was the best player Noble Park had had in the Sub-District competition.

He said it was hard to remember him having a bad season.

Perera migrated to Australia from Sri Lanka in 2007. He had played for Sri Lanka ‘A’ and was in the Sri Lankan Cricket Academy.

Noble Park approached him after tracking his deeds at Heatherton in the VTCA South section: in 2008-09 he cracked 1021 runs, with five centuries, and took 34 wickets, and the following season he grabbed 65 wickets at 9.6.

On five occasions Perera was selected in the VSDCA team of the year.

Issy Perera and Robbie Johnston after their unbroken stand of 215 against Altona in 2017.

This morning Subbies president Phil O’Meara paid tribute to Perera’s contribution to Noble Park and the association.

“What a wonderful player he’s been over such a long period of time,’’ he said.

“I think he’s actually one of the all-time greats of the competition, with his spinning and his batting. Just a great player, a matchwinner, and he was always available for our state games. It’s sad to hear he’s going.’’

Deepdene Bears said last night that Perera had been a star of the Sub-District scene for 10 years, had “been on our radar for a while’’ and it was thrilled to land him.