Cricket Southern Bayside: Bentleigh signs two overseas players

The Demons have added pace and class with two overseas players joining them in Cricket Southern Bayside. But Bentleigh has confirmed some key losses, too.

Jermaine Levy has signed with Bentleigh in Cricket Southern Bayside. Picture: Facebook

Strike power and batting prowess.

That’s what Bentleigh is hoping for from its two new overseas signings, Jamaican paceman Jermaine Levy and English batsman Ben Seabrook.

Opening batsmen in the Cricket Southern Bayside competition can expect fire and brimstone from 28-year-old Levy, who is said to possess genuine pace.

He has four first-class matches under his belt and has represented Jamaica and most recently the West Indies Emerging Players team.

Seabrook, 23, has played three first-class matches for Cambridge MCCU and is described as a quality top-order batter who can bowl some handy medium pace.

CricX.com described him as being “widely regarded as one of the best batters outside of the professional game’’.

Englishman Ben Seabrook on the attack. Picture: Facebook

In 2021, Seabrook was the leading white-ball cricketer in the non-professional game in the UK. Playing in the in the NCCA One Day Trophy, he scored 307 runs, averaging 76.75, at a strike rate of over 100, including scores of 135 not out and 123.

The signings will help cover the losses of Bentleigh’s champion opening batsman Rob Ciccarella, who has retired, and all-rounder Greg Buckley, who is moving to country NSW.

Buckley won the Demons’ club champion award last season.

And there is also a cloud over Bentleigh star Brendan Drew.

Brendan Drew.

Bentleigh keeper Rob Ciccarella celebrates a wicket.

“We’re still talking with Brendan Drew as well but there’s a chance that Drewy might not be suiting up for us next year as well,’’ Bentleigh captain-coach Jarrad Dowling said.

Dowling said Levy and Seabrook were handpicked recruits, to help cover Bentleigh’s loss of experience.

“So we knew, with those types of exits and with the borders opening again,’’ Dowling said.

“We did blood six young Bentleigh kids into the first grade last season and we held our own which we were really proud of.

“That experience is going to bode well for this year coming up, those guys will all get bigger, broader roles in the team with exits of the experience.’’

Dowling said Levy and Seabrook would add a sharp edge to the Demons side.

“Ben Seabrook is a really classy, volume run scorer,’’ he said.

“He’s got a real history of making lots of runs and goes big with runs and bowls handy seam up.

“And I said I want a fast bowler. We’ve probably been a bit of a workman bowling attack for a few years now…I think having an out and out quick who bowls real gas will be an advantage for us.’’

Dowling said Bentleigh wasted little time locking in Levy and Seabrook.

“I didn’t want to spend all off season fluffing around with recruitment so we found some real guns who fit the profile,’’ he said.

“I met them a couple of times, and both lads are beauties so we pulled the trigger on it and got them.’’

Bentleigh made the finals in CSB Championship division last season.

Meanwhile, CSB Division 1 premiers Mentone, which will rise to Championship division next season, is said to be close to unveiling a key recruit.