Seb Gotch finds new cricket home with Sorrento in MPCA

Former Victorian and Melbourne Stars player Seb Gotch has spoken about his return to cricket after a two-and-a-half year lay-off.

Sorrento playing-coach Seb Gotch. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Seb Gotch says it’s “too risky” for him to don the wicketkeeping gloves for Sorrento this season.

A chronic finger injury ended his first-class career in 2021 and kept him out of cricket altogether for 30 months.

But, at 30, he’s back in the game; as playing-coach of Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association club Sorrento.

“I’m loving my time with the Sharks, a really, really good bunch of guys,” Gotch said.

“It’s been a pleasant start.

“It’s always easier when you’re 2-0 to start the year but having a great year.”

Gotch has peeled off scores of 48 and 43 in Sorrento’s opening two wins over Long Island and Heatherhill.

Seb Gotch.

Sorrento batter Luke Kranzbuhler. Pictures: Valeriu Campan

But he’s leaving the keeping duties to Patty Hall, who’s used to gloving thunderbolts from ex-Frankston quickie Jake Wood.

Gotch jokes he’s fielding wherever he can “avoid the ball”.

“I can’t keep, it’s just too risky if I get hit on the finger again,’’ he said.

“It’s nice just to position myself where I don’t have to have too much involvement.”

Gotch is thriving in his role as senior coach at Sorrento and loving “everyone’s willingness to learn”.

“Since getting down there I wanted to make that a really big part of my involvement, I wanted to offer as much time as possible,” he said.

“But I’m almost running out of time. Everyone’s reaching out, guys are doing their own analysis of their own game and asking me if this is the right method and what to change.

“Personally, it’s really rewarding being able to to work with these guys and to see how much they are getting out of the game…it’s great, it’s a great environment and I feel really lucky to be down there to be honest.”

Sorrento president Ben McDonald said Gotch has been a hit with Sharks players.

“He’s a great guy,” he said.

“He’s just great around the group, he’s just so positive and accommodating.”

Gotch played 29 Shield matches, scoring 1187 runs at 33.91, with two centuries and six half-centuries.

His tons came in successive matches in the 2019-20 season, 100 against NSW and 102 against Queensland.

Sorrento’s other key recruit this season, Luke Kranzbuhler, has begun the season strongly.

The young all-rounder leads the Provincial run chart after scores of 76 and 39.