Tom Fitzgerald is Tamworth cricket’s perpetual-motion man.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The City United batting linchpin is in his fifth straight season of playing cricket without a break.
And in his first innings for City this year, after helping North Yorkshire-based amateur club Filey to the Scarborough Beckett League Premier Division title this year, the 19-year-old began where he left of last season – top-scoring with 75 as City amassed 304 on day one of their two-dayer against West Tamworth at Riverside 1.
READ ALSO:
It was the second straight year Fitzgerald had spent with Filey. He credited the first stint there with helping him mature as a person and as a cricket, leading to a standout 2017-18 Tamworth season in which he averaged 53.5 in 15 first-grade innings.
He scored two centuries, with a highest score of 122, and four fifties that year. In the 2016-17 season, his first full stint in top grade, he averaged 22.
Bowling right-arm medium fast, he was the second leading wicket-taker in the Scarborough Beckett League Premier Division this year, taking six wickets in an innings three times (with a best of 6-26). He also had a five-wicket haul.
Back home, he is excited about City United’s promising form, as they build on last season’s breakthrough year following a long struggle.
He believes that this could finally be City’s time, with the side already into the one-day final against South Tamworth on November 30.
It “has been a while” since City scored 300 runs, said Fitzgerald, who debuted for Central North this year, at last month’s Country Championship.
“We’ve got a very nice group here … we’re going outstanding at the moment; we’re pretty proud,” he said. “All the boys are pretty chuffed … We're here to win it this year.”
He added: “It’s a long time [to be playing cricket without a break] but it’s good when you come back and we’re winning like this.”
On Saturday, City were dismissed in the 70th over. Scott Brennan (60), skipper Brad Smith (46) and Tait Jordan (46) were the other major contributors.
In reply, West Tamworth had slumped to 4-46 at stumps. The in-form Jordan claimed 2-21.
Left-arm spinner Harrison Kelly opened the bowling for Wests, finishing with 4-114 off 37 overs, while Shaun Stevenson took 3-27.
