IT is family reunion time for the Vadljas at Brian Weightman Oval against Coomealla Wentworth in Sunraysia Cricket Association First Division cricket on Saturday.
Campbell Vadlja returns to the Mildura East lineup to play alongside his dad and seven-time Innes medallist Tom.
The younger Vadlja had been playing in Adelaide in the South Australian Cricket Association system with the Emerging Redbacks, but that state’s COVID situation forced him to come home unexpectedly.
“He got out of there before the lockdown to come back home,” East captain-coach Josh Berry said.
“I don’t think he’d seen his family in nine months either, to catch up with his Dad Tom and mum Brooke was a good opportunity for him to do that.
Realistically it could be the last time (Campbell and Tom) ever get the opportunity to play together, Tom’s turning 50 now … I think he’s about to hit 50 next year.
“Campbell’s still striving to play at a higher level and might not ever get the opportunity to play in the same side as his Dad again.”
Campbell had not played for East since round eight of the 2018-19 season.
Since then he has had a barnstorming Victorian Premier Cricket debut innings of 180 in the 2018-19 season before his switch to South Australia.
Like his dad, Campbell is a highly driven individual according to Berry, and it is hoped that will rub off on the team.
“They are both ultra professional so the way they go about it hopefully will drag the other nine blokes along and they will learn from it and what it takes with a bit of professionalism to be a First Division cricketer,” Berry said.
“It’ll be good to have Campbell back, hopefully it’s for a couple of games but even just for the weekend the boys will learn a lot from having him back.”
After one game last season, Tom Vadlja has been like a new recruit for East this year too.
His past two innings have yielded scores of 68 and 44, with berry appreciating having his experience around.
“Especially him, he’s coached and captained successful East sides in the past,” he said.
‘It’s good for me to bounce ideas off him and for him to add his input as well, the boys listen pretty intently to what he’s got to say to have him back with that leadership is great for us.
“He’s turning heads on the field too … it’s like having a new recruit there which is good.”
East face a tough task on Saturday against a resurgent Coomealla Wentworth.
Sitting 2-1, the Blues have lost Kobe Smith to Premier Cricket but with captain Justin Freeman in form after a seven wicket haul last weekend they are very dangerous.
“They are a great example of where we want to get to,” Berry said about their opponents.
“They’ve got a lot of young talent, probably four years ago they were just building a list and getting games into those guys.
“They’ve come out the other side, they are in that age group of 25-27 and starting to hit their peak — Justin Freeman, Liam Freeman, Bevan Wade, they are all playing pretty good cricket.”
