THE weather feels more akin to home, but Mildura East’s English import Josh Bowyer is beginning to get comfortable with his Sunraysia surroundings.
The 18-year-old from Ipswich feels his game is taking steps forward with his all-round contributions guiding East to their first win of the SCA season over Mildura Settlers last week.
Bowyer scored 31 and took 2/15 against Setts, after scores of zero and 14 in his first two innings.
“It’s interesting, it’s not the conditions I was expecting coming across to Australia, definitely wetter than I anticipated,” he said.”It was a tricky first game. I got a pretty good ball but I also didn’t play it well, the second game the pitch was a bit spongey and I battled through for 14, and last week although the outfield was wet, the pitch was dry and I managed 31 and took 2/15 as well. It felt like it was a good stepping stone in the right direction.”
Bowyer admitted it was a relief to get the win on the board last week, although his team felt they should have also taken down Mildura West the previous match.
“The game against West … we felt like we should have won it,” he said.
“I think we bowled unbelievably well and took wickets, but it wasn’t enough in the end.
“We have a full list back now, guys who have come back from being away and I think we can give Irymple, and then Gol Gol a good run for their money.”
Bowyer is also reveling in the experience of sharing a top order position with Tom Vadlja and Brad Thomas, and is learning as much as he can from the star duo.
“I opened with Brad last week and he’s great to bat with because he just settles you down and tells you to wait for the bad balls to come,” he said.
“And batting with ‘Vadj’, he knows the bowlers here and what they might do, he’s just got so much experience.
“Even in training, he gives you tips and explains how things will be like because he’s got so much knowledge. Little things you might be doing you could get away with in English conditions but not so much here. It’s really valuable.
“I think we’ve got a great mix of youth and experience in the line-up. We’ve got the talent with youngers guys like Jayden Hunt, Tyson Giles and Surendra Prajapat, with a good mix of experience in guys like Tom, Brad, Andrew Ross and Josh Berry.”
Mildura East face Irymple at Henshilwood Reserve today.
