Premier Cricket 2024: Aussie quick star Kane Richardson makes cameo appearance for Geelong
A Premier Cricket club had the luxury of calling on one of the most renowned T20 bowlers in the country. And he provided much more value than the numbers suggest.
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After losing its first T20 game to Melbourne in a thriller, Geelong had the luxury of calling on an Aussie international with 51 white ball caps for its second match on Saturday afternoon.
Melbourne Renegades quick Kane Richardson was keen on getting some preparation for the upcoming Big Bash League campaign and Geelong jumped at the chance to add his 192 games of T20 experience to their line-up.
Based in Queensland, the 33-year-old made his Cats debut in their win 13-run win over Melbourne University on their home turf — and he would have played a week earlier if not for a washout.
A connection with emerging wrist-spinner Callum Stow, who is poised join Richardson at the Renegades as a replacement player this season according to this masthead, was behind the cameo.
Richardson — the third highest wicket-taker in BBL history — didn’t set the world on fire with 0-47 from his four overs, but Geelong cricket director Travis Agg said his contribution on and off the field was invaluable.
“While his numbers might look like he got hit around a bit, he bowled in the power play at the start and bowled in the power surge, so you’re bowling at the hardest time of the game,” Agg said.
“That that was kind of the experience we were looking for and it was also something that he wanted to do, is bowl in those overs and then work in with the bowlers in game to help them with, ‘what ball are you looking to bowl here, what field do you want?’ They just got so much value out of it.
“In game he was awesome but pre game the conversations he was having with players and the genuine interest and care he had about Geelong Cricket Club and what Geelong Cricket Club is about.
“He could have quite easily just rolled in and just bowled his overs and gone home, but he genuinely invested in what we were doing and generally invested in the players.
“While we only had him for one game, it was very, very well-received.”
As Richardson took up the challenging overs, pacemen Tom Neate (2-19 from four) and Josh Garner (3-25 from four) reaped the rewards – and the experience of playing alongside a T20 pro.
It capped an impressive day for Neate after claiming 3-24 in nailbiting two-wicket to Melbourne on Saturday morning, where the match went down to the second last ball.
“He bowled exceptionally well, which is great cause he probably had a bit of a different pre-season to a lot of the bowlers and was working on some different stuff,” Agg said.
“Probably didn’t hit the ground running and he’s worked his way into the season now and the two games on the weekend was a really strong contribution.”
Opening batter Josh McDonald celebrated his 200th game for Geelong in style with 41 off 30 against Melbourne University after making an 18-ball 30 in the first game.
All-rounder Arjun Sehrewat (26 and 3-30, 1-23) was a consistent performer across the two games while Aussie U19s talent Ollie Peake and Eamonn Vines both made 33 against Melbourne University.
Agg lauded McDonald for helping the club through a difficult time and always putting the team first – including allowing Josh Larkin to take on the captaincy and giving up his keeping role for youngster Liam Blackford.
“He’s been one of those guys that has been really resilient, but he’s also been pretty selfless behind the scenes as well, which a lot of people probably wouldn’t be fully aware of,” Agg said.
“He’s just been a really, really positive contributor to the club.”
Richardson will be heading to Geelong for the Renegades’ clash with the Hobart Hurricanes at GMHBA Stadium on December 19.
While it would be nice to have Richardson as a permanent fixture at the Cats in the future, it appears a longshot.
“I doubt he’ll be moving from Queensland to Geelong, not unless he had to,” Agg chuckled.
“We would have him back in a heartbeat. If he turned around next year and said, ‘Look, I’m coming back again. Can we make this work?’ We’d be like, ‘absolutely’. He was brilliant.”
Originally published as Premier Cricket 2024: Aussie quick star Kane Richardson makes cameo appearance for Geelong
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