Jamie Cox named for Mornington in MPCA

One of the greats of Australian first-class cricket is pullin on the whites in local cricket on Saturday.

Jamie Cox on the attack for Tasmania.

Former Tasmanian Sheffield Shield star Jamie Cox is making a surprise return to cricket on Saturday, lining up in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association.

Cox has been named to play for Mornington against Baxter in the association’s top division, Provincial.

He attended training on Thursday night.

Former Victorian captain Darren Berry coaches Mornington and has coaxed his friend Cox on to the field for the Round 5 match, helping the team cover a string of unavailabilities.

The stylish right-hander, now involved in St Kilda Football Club’s operations, has just turned 51.

He made the last of his 264 first-class appearances in 2005, retiring with 18,614 runs made at an average of 42.69.

There were 51 centuries and 81 half-centuries.

Cox sits second on the most-runs table for Shield cricket, with 10,821 at 38.92 (only Darren Lehmann made more). And he holds the record for most Shield matches, 162.

He also played 192 List A games.

Cox’s Cricinfo profile said he was in the “unfortunate category’’ of being an outstanding state player who never represented his country.

“An elegant right-hander, Cox possessed a tight defensive technique and a rich variety of attacking shots, and was also a regular leader of Tasmania, who he guided to the Pura Cup final of 2001-02,’’ Cricinfo said.

“Originally a middle-order batsman, he blossomed into one of the nation’s most respected openers and in collaboration with Dene Hills formed half of one of the most productive first-wicket combinations in Australian first-class history.’’

Cox also played successfully for many seasons with Somerset.