Cricket Southern Bayside: Beaumaris signs former Prahran opener Adam Bull

The Sharks have picked up a century-making ex-Premier batsman, and are in talks with a former Big Bash star.

Adam Bull (left) will open the batting for Beaumaris in 2023-24, while the Sharks also hope Ian Cockbain will play some games.

“We’ve got a big in,” Beaumaris playing-coach Sam Coates said.

Indeed, the Sharks’ batting line-up will have a sharp edge this season after picking up Ormond opener Adam Bull.

The right-hander crosses to Banksia Reserve after two run-filled seasons in the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association, including five centuries and 1316 runs, at 45.3.

Bull, of course, forged his reputation as a fine opening batsman at Prahran where he played 218 First XI matches, scoring more than 5500 runs and six centuries.

“He’s come across,” Coates, who played with Bull at Prahran, said.

“He’s actually just sick of travelling in the Subbies to be honest and wanted to play a bit more locally at a decent standard still. I’ve been mates with him for a long time.”

Adam Bull in action. Picture: Sarah Matray

Coates said Bull would “go in at one’’, with the rest of the Beaumaris batting line-up still to be worked out.

“Tom Mutton might bat a little bit higher because our No. 3 Lachie Fryer is going to stay overseas,” he said.

“So Bull will go in at one and I’ll bat between one and four. We haven’t actually figured it out yet.”

Bull started last season with successive centuries for Ormond, and he added another in November. Beauie will be hoping for a similar sizzling start by him this season.

Cameron Watts will again captain Beaumaris after leading the Sharks to the grand final last season.

Tom Mutton batting for Beaumaris.

Sam Coates.

Beaumaris has retained paceman Ben Earney, who led the competition wickets chart last season with 31.

Beaumaris is also hopeful of getting former Adelaide Strikers Big Bash star, Englishman Ian Cockbain, for some games.

The Sharks have been in talks with the former Gloucestershire star, who played three seasons with Beaumaris between 2009-14, scoring 1769 runs, at 46, with four centuries.

“If he does come out (from England) he will also have a major connection to an Adelaide club,” Coates said.

“It’s sort of like, well, we’ll have him if he’s around and he wants to spend time in Melbourne.”

Coates has taken on the club’s senior coaching role after the club searched unsuccessfully for a replacement for Chris Hall, who has left to coach Caulfield Grammar first XI side.

Former player Stephen Mellick, whose younger brother Tom opens the Beaumaris bowling, has returned to the club as “practice captain”, running the nets during the week.

“He is general sales manager at Frankston Mazda so he can’t play weekends and he’s really missed the club, so when we talked to him about coming back in a Tuesday-Thursday role he jumped at it,” Coates said.

“He’s been fantastic.”

Coates said the Sharks have a group of exciting school-aged players who are set to take another step forward this season.

Good things are expected from Jack McNamara, a left-arm fast bowler, who has come back in pre-season bigger and stronger. He played thirds finals last season but will push for a ones spot this season.

Fletcher Batty, a 17-year-old Mentone Grammar student, is bursting with potential and will bat in the Beaumaris top order when he’s available.

Beaumaris hosts Hampton in the Cricket Southern Bayise Champinship division season-opener, a one-dayer, on Saturday, October 7.