MPCA: Sorrento appoints former England cricketer Dimitri Mascarenhas as captain-coach

Sorrento has signed a former England all-rounder who once hit five consecutive sixes in a ODI and was one of Shane Warne’s closest cricket mates.

Dimitri Mascarenhas with Sorrento president Ben McDonald. Picture: Supplied

What a lifter for Sorrento.

The Sharks on Tuesday confirmed they had signed former England international Dimitri Mascarenhas for the 2024-25 Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association Provincial season.

He will be captain-coach.

Mascarenhas enjoyed much success during his international and first-class career but was perhaps most famous for hitting five sixes in a row in a One Day International at the Oval in 2007.

His clean-hitting onslaught was off the bowling of Yuvraj Singh, with MS Dhoni watching from behind the stumps.

His 30-run over is still an England record.

Now 46, Mascarenhas played 20 ODI and 14 T20 international matches for England and 195 first-class matches for Hampshire.

Dimitri Mascarenhas and Shane Warne were mates on and off the field. Picture: Joe Giddens - PA Images via Getty Images)

Mascarenhas was one of Shane Warne’s closest cricket mates.

The pair became great mates during their time playing together at Hampshire.

The late, great Warne is buried at the Sorrento cemetery, nearby to the cricket oval.

Mascarenhas said his appointment happened “pretty quickly’’.

“I made the move down here literally a month ago,’’ he said.

“I’m living in Sorrento, my kids have started school down here, my eldest has started high school down here.

“I played a couple of games for Sorrento in the T20 last year and I was always going to be part of the club. Both my boys played cricket for the first time this year in the juniors, so I was expecting to help out, do some coaching and as it turns out they needed a head coach, and I put my hand up.’’

England's Dimitri Mascarenhas hits a six from a ball from India's Yuvraj Singh.

Mascarenhas confirmed he would play for Sorrento next season, but only as a batter — he says his bowling days are over.

“I played last year for Vermont in the Box Hill Reporter league,’’ he said.

“If I’m going to be head coach I’m going to be there all day so I thought why not, one more year. I’ve been saying one more for the last five so we’ll see what happens.’’

Asked if he could do a repeat of his famous five successive sixes, he said: “When there’s spin on, maybe. I don’t think so. I still enjoy it, it’s good fun.’’

Mascarenhas said his aim at Sorrento was to see improvement.

“My philosophy on coaching is that I just want to improve the players,’’ he said.

“Improve them in any way shape or form I can throughout the season. Results are secondary but if we are all improving I think the results will look after themselves.

“You always want to win, you have more fun when you are winning and I totally understand that. I’ve played the game for 20 years professionally and I’ve been coaching it now for the last 12 years.’’

He said Sorrento had “some really great young talent’’ and he enjoyed having a taste of Sorrento cricket last season.

“The lads were awesome and I just really enjoyed it,’’ he said.

“They’ve got some experience, got some youngsters and I suppose I’m just looking forward to seeing more of the players, and getting stuck in.

“I’ve never been head coach of a club before. I’ve done it professionally, I coached Otago for a season but to do a whole club, I’m not just looking after 12 players, we’ve got five teams...

“I know the club is excited but it’s exciting for me, a new opportunity and opportunity to give back as well.’’

Mascarenhas said he would likely bat in the middle order.

“Depending on the make up of the team…I don’t want to get up the order too high that’s not my job, I’m there to help the young blokes,’’ he said.

“No, I’m not going to bowl…I didn’t bowl at all last year, just the body doesn’t like it when I bowl.’’

Sorrento president Ben McDonald said the club was chuffed to secure a player of Mascarenhas’ calibre.

A sighting around town last year led the Sharks to landing him as a boom recruit.

“His stats speak for themselves,’’ McDonald said.

“He has Level 3 ECB coaching plus international and domestic playing and coaching experience.

“His philosophy on cricket and his coaching methods are elite. It’s super exciting for our club.’’