Premier Cricket: Ian Holland overtakes Darryl Stranger as Ringwood’s leading wicket-taker

Ringwood captain Ian Holland added to his bulging CV against Camberwell Magpies when he became the Rams’ leading wicket-taker.

Ian Holland bends his back. Picture: Hamish Blair

It’s a mark of Ian Holland’s excellence that at the age of 28 he has already made Ringwood history.

Holland overtook Darryl Stranger as the Rams’ leading First XI wicket-taker on Saturday when he nicked off Camberwell Magpies opener Ben Rowles.

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The ball, angled across the left-hander off a good length, took him to 266 wickets from 142 games at the Rams since making his debut in 2006-07.

Fittingly, it landed in the safe hands of Joe Loorham at first slip.

Darryl Stranger, in action for Bayswater, held the record for the most wickets at Ringwood.

“He’s probably been involved in more wickets than anyone else in that tally so that was quite nice as well,” Holland said.

“He (Rowles) had quite an open stance so I knew if I was able to get the ball in that channel, I didn’t think he was going to be able to drive the ball with much consistency.

“I might have got him third ball. He just sort of went after a drive, it was a nice length and he nicked it.”

Holland’s wicket tally includes 11 five-wicket hauls. Couple that with his 3924 runs, including nine centuries, and you have the near complete cricketer.

The champion all-rounder, who made one Sheffield Shield appearance for Victoria in 2016, needed two wickets in the Round 7 Premier Cricket fixture at Jubilee Park to pass Stanger’s record.

Ian Holland with the John Scholes Medal as the best player in the 2014-15 final. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

He equalled the mark when he trapped Hampshire teammate Lewis McManus lbw for 3.

“He actually hit me for a massive six in the T20 the other week so I had to get one back on him,” Holland said.

“It will be nice to have a little bit of banter in the back pocket when we play together back over in England but he is a good batsman so it was an important wicket and to get him early was nice.”

Stranger was a teacher at Ringwood Secondary College when Holland was a student.

“I’ve known Darryl for years now and I always see him at different events. I saw him on Wednesday night at an event and he was still making it clear he was still the record holder,” Holland said.

“From what I understand he was a very skilful bowler and I could potentially be someone similar to how he bowls — movement over pace.

“Probably both of us bowl a little bit of outswing and try and swing them around.

“Darryl has always been a great support and it’s always nice to run into him and talk cricket and chat about the Rams.”

Ringwood president Mark Freeman said Holland would be a legend in the club’s hall of fame when he calls time on his career.

Ian Holland in an early appearance for Ringwood.

“He has been a great example of professionalism, how to approach the game of cricket, how to prepare for a game of cricket and his conduct off and on the field is fantastic,” Freeman said.

“He really is a fantastic example for any young up-and-coming cricketer.”

Having turned 28 in October, Holland could yet join the 400 club when his career is done.

“Who knows?” he said when asked how many wickets he could finish with.

“I’ll try do as best as I can. I’ve still got lots of things I want to achieve with my career and obviously a fair bit of that is with Hampshire now.

“I really enjoy coming back to Australia and playing with the Rams and hopefully I can keep contributing with the bat and ball for many more years to come.”

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