Poms build empire at Mildura West

ENGLISH imports Kian Burns and Charlie Walker are set to add some extra steel to Mildura West’s First XI this season in the Sunraysia Cricket Association.

Burns, a free-wheeling top order batsman from Cornwall and Walker, a medium-fast bowler from the West Midland who can score lower order runs, join West’s already strong English contingent, which includes coach Chris Williams and new skipper Greg Lewis.

Williams said there has been plenty of positivity in pre-season ahead of their opening game of the season against Irymple, a twilight fixture to be finished under lights at John Hall Oval.

Burns scored 848 runs over 31 innings this past season, which included a knock of 112 (81) in June for Bridstowe CC in the Cornwall Cricket League. Back in 2019 for Roche Old Boys CC, he smashed an unbeaten 200 from just 79 deliveries.

Walker claimed 24 wickets for Bridgnorth in the Shropshire County Cricket League last season with a best of 4/37, while adding a top score of 65 at better than a run a ball.

“We’ve recruited Kian and Charlie to bolster the playing stocks, Kian a hard-hitting top order batsman and Charlie a medium top order bowler who can hit the ball hard if required,” Williams said.

“Kian will bat number three, certainly in our white-ball team, and Charlie will add to our bowling stocks. He’s actually from Greg Lewis’s old club. They’re from different parts but can hopefully forge a good partnership.”

Lewis’s ascension to the captaincy has been a deserved one, according to Williams.

“I think his first season with us was maybe in 2016 and he’s exactly what you want in a good club cricketer,” he said.

“He’s passionate about the club, he’s good a good cricket brain, he trains hard and last year certainly got his rewards through his batting.

“He might have been a bit stiff not to make the Team of the Year but that’s not the sort of thing that would worry him, and he’s been rewarded with coming in to captain the side.”

Young players will still likely be given an opportunity to impress for West, with Williams keeping a keen eye on Josh Evans and Jack Probert in recent weeks.

“I’ve been really impressed with Josh’s pre-season,” he said.

“He’s a young wicket-keeper and left-handed batsman, he’s really shown a bit. I suspect he’ll start in the twos but there’ll be opportunities for him.

“Jack is a young leg spinner who really looks like he’s got what it takes to get there.

“He just needs to bowl a few more longer spells, we played him in the practice game against East and they came out very well.”