Premier Cricket 2024-25: Inside Ringwood champion David King’s sizzling summer

300-game veteran David King thought his time with the ball may have been done at Premier level. Fast forward a few months and he’s enjoying one of the seasons of his career.

Ringwood’s David King celebrates a wicket. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

“I probably should give up the ball,” David King declared ahead of his 300th First XI match a few months ago.

“I can still contribute however, but the body can’t go as long, so a couple of spells will do me.”

Fast forward to January, and the Ringwood champion admits he’s somewhat surprised himself at the age of 34, claiming 25 wickets this season at an average of 14 – ranked second in the competition.

“The body feels OK which is good, I’ve been able to bowl more overs than I have in the past which helps,” King said this week.

“I certainly didn’t think I’d have 25 wickets with still a few games left.

“I feel as you get older and the more experience you get, there’s not the same pressure there is when you’re younger.

“I know what I need to do whether it’s with the bat or the ball.”

David King bowling for Ringwood. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

And with the bat? He’s firing on all cylinders, fast closing in on 500 runs with 485 at 60.63 – also recently sailing past 11,000 career First XI runs.

“I feel really good with the bat, I go out with a nice clear mind and whatever the format I feel I can go out and hopefully get some runs for the team,” King said.

“It becomes second nature – not thinking too much about it.

“What helps me is being able to go out there and whatever I’m doing, knowing that if I bowl here it should work or with the bat it’s about backing my skills and not being afraid to go out as well.

“Some of those thoughts … perhaps for me, (were around) trying to get into the state stuff (early in my career) – you have those worries or things in the back of your mind.

“The experience really helps with that clarity.”

David King walks out for his 300th game in October, 2024. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

The skipper plundered 54 in the weekend’s draw with a finals-bound Richmond, combining with returning star Ian Holland (69 runs) for 121.

Holland’s efforts also included a haul of 4-21 off 19 overs – and the all-rounder hasn’t missed a beat since returning from first-class UK outfit Leicestershire earlier this season, with 329 runs and 14 wickets.

“He nearly got us over the line (on the weekend),” King said.

“He’s still a professional cricketer, he’s an excellent player and he’s essentially two players in one with what he contributes with the bat and the ball.

“There hasn’t been many, if any, better all-rounders in modern Premier Cricket I wouldn’t have thought with the way he’s able to contribute in all forms is very impressive.

“He’s still as good as ever … any time we can have him playing with us is a real bonus.”

Ian Holland. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Ringwood fell a wicket short of knocking over the then ladder-leading Tigers, putting on 9-275d as the hosts held out with 9-201.

The Rams sit a game and five points clear in eighth.

“The boys did everything they could,” King said.

“It is a missed opportunity – we want to try and win those games.

“We were the better team on the day but unfortunately we just couldn’t get that last wicket.

“The wicket was pretty flat and we knew that if once they shut up shop and didn’t go for the win anymore, it was going to be difficult to try and get them out.

“We couldn’t quite get that last chance … but I was really proud of the boys with how they went about it. It’s disappointing to leave five points out there and it brings us back to eighth.

“We’ve got a really big three weeks coming up with Dandenong, Carlton and Prahran, and if we play like that, we think we can win those games.”