MPCA: Long Island signs Richmond premiership paceman Matt Shimell

Long Island looks like having the best bowling attack in the MPCA after signing a Richmond premiership paceman.

Monash Tigers opening bowler Matt Shimell lets fly in the 2014-15 Premier Cricket grand final against Ringwood. Picture: Valeriu Campan

He played alongside former Australian T20 captain Cameron White at Richmond.

And often, pace bowler Matt Shimell overshadowed his famous teammate.

Like the day he took a hat-trick against St Kilda in 2011-12, grabbing 4-2 in 16 balls to turn the Premier Cricket game on its head.

He took another First XI hat-trick, against Geelong, in 2015-16.

Shimell enjoyed a fine career at Richmond, his 75 First XI games including a premiership and 134 wickets, with a best of 8-69.

Now the 32-year-old is gearing up for a new cricket challenge — with Long Island in the MPCA.

Shimell played in that Tigers flag in 2011-12 with Long Island skipper Tom Boxell.

And after Shimell recently bought a house in the area, Long Island pounced.

“We got lucky there,” Long Island president James Haley said.

“He moved into the area and reached out to Tom (Boxell), saying he was looking for a club to play at locally and to meet some new people.

“And within about two or three days he’d signed on. It was good.”

Buckley Ridges bowler Jurgen Andersen. Picture: Josie Hayden

Long Island has been the most active club, recruiting-wise, in the MPCA since the “silly season’’ began last month.

No sooner had the Islanders won the Peninsula division premiership than they were making a bid for a follow-up flag.

Long Island secured former Dandenong keeper-batsman Josh Dowling as coach and then inked the signature of Ferntree Gully Country Week paceman Jurgen Andersen.

Now Shimell completes a high-quality bowling attack that includes left-arm quickie Dan Kelly, champion seamer Andrew Tweddle, Andersen and spinners Boxell and Zac Wilson.

“Essentially we’ll have six bowlers, and that’s not even taking into account Burkey (Michael Burke) who was pretty good with the ball last season,” Haley said

“So we’ve gone probably from that (our bowling) being our weakness I would say to going into next season having depth.

“Our batting was our strength last season. Daniel Kelly had an unbelievable year with the ball and I think we needed to build around him and that’s what we’ve gone out and done.

“We probably didn’t expect to get two high quality quicks.’’

Haley said Shimell had a reputation of bowling well to the tail.

“It’s been a problem for quite some time at Long Island, we just haven’t had that quick that can clean up the tail,” Haley said.

Seaford coach Scott Manders (left) and Andrew Smith shake on it.

SOME BIG OUTS AT LANGY

Langwarrin has lost four players from its semi-final side.

Jayde Herrick has retired and Tom Hussey has headed back to Tooradin in the West Gippsland comp.

And promising young players Andrew Smith and Riley Davie have gone to rival MPCA clubs — Smith signing with Seaford and Davie joining his brother Matt at Somerville.

Sammy Mullavey batting for Heatherhill. He is staying at Baxter.

BAXTER SKIPPER RE-COMMITS

There have been several key departures from Baxter in recent weeks, with champion Chris Brittain going to Langwarrin and Joe Rule and Adeel Hussain joining Heatherhill last week.

But now some good news for Baxter.

Skipper Sam Mullavey has scotched rumours he was also on the move by declaring he’s “one hundred percent committed to Baxter’’.

There was talk he may have been heading back to Casey South Melbourne, but he quickly dismissed it.

“Baxter is my club and I can’t wait to get stuck into pre-season,” Mullavey said.

“We’re looking at adding some exciting players to our list and have some really talented guys that will come through, too.”

CRICKET SNICKS

In other snicks:

*Whispers grow louder that Jack Fowler could return to Dromana after establishing himself as one of Premier Cricket’s brightest young stars.

*A couple of clubs chasing the talented Stuart Plunkett.

*Mt Eliza skipper Tom Baron having a season off.

*Seaford signed South Croydon bowling all-rounder Zac Staggard.