MPCA 2023-24: Mt Martha signs Englishman Evan Williams

Mt Martha is set to make a charge at the MPCA Sub-District premiership after securing a Lancashire league batter who also bowls “a heavy ball’’.

Evan Williams has joined Mt Martha for the 2023-24 season. Picture: Facebook

The Reds are ready to roar.

Mt Martha — runners-up last season — is going all out to win the premiership in MPCA Sub-District in season 2023-24, assembling a strong, well-balanced side.

And its latest signing, Lancashire Premier League left-handed opening batsmen Evan Williams, is set to play a key role.

He’s coming off a stunning English season with Greenmount, amassing 1053 runs, at 50.1, with eight fifties and one century, as well as 30 wickets, at 23.1.

Williams has played in Australia before; he opened the batting for Lindisfarne in the Cricket Tasmania Premier League last summer.

He joins fellow Lancashire Premier League paceman Tom Walker at Mt Martha.

“We’re looking for him to have a big impact,’’ Mt Martha captain-coach Ben Stallworthy said of Williams.

“He bowls a heavy ball too. He opened the bowling for his side back home in premier league.’’

Evan Williams will pad up for Mt Martha. Picture: Facebook

Stallworthy said Mt Martha, with enviable firepower, was setting its sights on moving up the ranks in the MPCA.

“Our bowling attack will be very strong, that’s always been a highlight of our club,’’ he said.

“So now it’s about getting enough runs to support the attack.’’

Stallworthy said attaining a player of Williams’ quality was a coup for Mt Martha.

“It’s just that extra bit of class really that can be hard to recruit locally, to find guys who are willing to come down to our division,’’ he said.

“To find someone so keen to come in and support our younger players as well is a big asset to the club.’’

Tom Walker made a huge impression at Mt Martha last season, taking a whopping 36 wickets at 11.83 with sheer pace, and he accompanied that tally with 269 runs at 20 with the bat.

Mt Martha’s only loss is talented teenager Mikis Vemis, to Frankston Peninsula.

But the Reds have other exciting youngsters coming through, with Finn Vemis and Charlie Caldecott set to take another step in 2023-24.

Finn Vemis, 17, shows a lot of promise with the bat, while Caldecott is a leg-spinner who played a lot of ones last season, at only 15.

“He’s a good kid, he backs himself…he’s adapted to the standard,’’ Stallworthy said of Caldecott.

Mt Martha also has experienced players, headed by Stallworthy and Simon Street, who will again take the keeping gloves.

“We’ve got a good mix of the older guys who are hanging in there to taste that success and an endless supply of young guys,’’ Stallworthy said.

“We’re pretty fortunate to have the supply we’ve got.’’