Cricket nomad Shacaya at peace in Sunraysia

SHACAYA Thomas’ cricket career has taken him across the world, but right now he’s found a home in Sunraysia.

The Workers Gol Gol Jamaican dynamo, 32, announced this week he’d signed on for three more seasons at his Sunraysia Cricket Association club.

The hard hitting all-rounder, whose career has taken him from first-class cricket and Caribbean Premier League action back in the West Indies to club cricket in England and now Australia, is hot property in cricket terms.

“I really love it here, I had a few options to go elsewhere but Gol Gol has been like a family to me,” Thomas said.

“I’ve developed a relationship with them and really enjoyed it there.

“I’ve been one of the players to be lucky, wherever I go and play has been family orientated, everybody treats each other with respect, I’ve enjoyed each and everybody’s company so it’s been really amazing, I can’t complain.”

And Workers Gol Gol wouldn’t complain either.

While team success has so far eluded the club in Thomas’ time, which started when he arrived as a playing coach for the 2017-18 season, the hard hitter has clubbed 1742 runs at an average of 37.87.

He has also taken 33 wickets for the club at an average just under 19 – 26 of those wickets coming last season as he found himself taking the ball more under captain-coach Adam Thomson.

“For me, batting is my main job but if there’s an opportunity to bowl I’m always prepared, I’m always practicing bowling as much as I practice batting,” Thomas said.

“I’ve received more opportunity to bowl (last seaon), for the past few years we’ve had really good bowlers so I didn’t really have to bowl much.

“I had more opportunity this year which turned out really good for the team and myself.”

Off the field, Thomas is now engaged to fiancée Casey – something else to help settle into life Down Under. 

“I met her through a friend, we’ve been together for just over a year but we’ve known each other for three years, so it’s been really good,” Thomas said.

“The club itself, the people around it and the kids are the main reason I’m staying here but that does help – meeting someone you can spend your life with.”

But there is something missing, which Thomas hopes to rectify when the SCA season gets under way at the end of the month.

“This is my fourth season and my main goal is just to win a flag,” he said.

“If I could give up 1000 runs and win the flag I’d happily do that.

“I’m always looking to give my best performance game by game, then assess from there, the aim for the team and myself personally is just to win a flag.”