Ben Middlebrook is back as an old adhesive who will hold together Tamworth’s youthful Connolly Cup side for their tournament-opener at Moree in Moree on Sunday.
Now in his 25th year of first grade, the Old Boys captain has returned to Connolly Cup cricket, after a long absence, to skipper the side and to impart his considerable knowledge on the outfit’s young brigade – some of the region’s most promising cricketers.
He did the same when he returned to the Northern Inland side for the Plan B Regional Big Bash this season, after last playing for the Bolters in 2015. He praised the performances of the teenagers picked in the Bolters side this year.
The 40-year-year enjoys playing the role of Tamworth cricket elder statesman, adding that “someone’s got to do it”.
“We’ve got young kids that we’re blooding into Tamworth rep cricket, and, yeah, we just need a couple of old heads there,” he said.
“I do enjoy it,” he added. “It’s good to help the kids expand their game.”
He replied “for sure” when asked if he was excited about the emergence of teens like Joey Mead, Josh Attard and Callum Henry, among the youngsters who will play against Moree.
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“I guess this is just the beginning of their journey into senior cricket, and you never know where it may take them,” he said.
Tamworth’s side also includes experienced players Travis Ling and Richard Bullock.
“There’s a couple of other [experienced] guys that are unavailable this weekend that will play games during the season, like your Adam Loles and guys like that,” Middlebrook said.
