Lehmann brings top end talent to the Flinders Ranges

 

The Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy visited Jamestown in the southern Flinders Ranges on November 21 and as part of the six month Australian stay for the aspiring scholars, a leadership course was held North of Orroroo, providing them with a taste of the outback. As part of the course the players called in to Jamestown to both treat the local school students with a specialist coaching clinic at the Lehmann/Gillespie Centre, before participating in a Twenty20 match together with some of the local area’s finest players.

Scholars were split between two sides with Somerset’s Max Waller leading the Gillespie XI, whilst Lancashire’s Liam Livingstone led the Lehmann XI as they battled for the Lehmann Gillespie Cup. Electing to bat first the Lehmann XI were in early trouble, when Worcestershire’s Sam Leach was bowled by seventeen year old Orroroo tear away Todd Baker for 2. Brodie O’Dea from nearby Pekina and formerly of the Woodville District Cricket Club, joined captain Livingstone in taking the score to 46 before Livingstone holed out to Kent batsman Sam Billings of the bowling of Derbyshire’s Dan Redfern. O’Dea was then joined by fellow Pekina resident and former Woodville/West Torrens SANFL footballer Dennis Redden, taking the score to 98 before Redden was dismissed, caught in the deep by Billings of the bowling of Somerset’s Max Waller. O’Dea was joined by UK scholar James O’Neill, with the pair accelerating the run rate, with O’Dea in some brutal form. Again it was Billings featuring in the breakthrough, bowling O’Dea for an outstanding innings of 93 including six sixes. O’Neill retired shortly after, with Surrey’s Rory Burns unbeaten on 32 and Dylan Redden of Jamestown unbeated on 4 at the closure of the innings, with the Lehmann XI finishing at 5/217. Local Todd Baker was the pick of the bowlers, with 1/17 from his four overs, with singles to Dan Redfern, Max Waller and Sam Billings.

Derbyshire’s dashing batsman Dan Redfern was joined by Jamestown local Ryan Simpson to open up for the Gillespie XI, but they were in early trouble when Redfern holed out to local youngster Dylan Redden off the bowling of Pushpinder Singh. Worcestershire’s Nick Harrison soon made it even better, when Sam Billings was caught by Rory Burns for 2. Some smart work in the field by the Netherlands Joost Kroesen had former SA Country batsman Ryan Simpson run out for 16, leaving the Gillespie XI teetering at 3/33. Former SA Country captiain and Burra local Boh Wall, joined Kiwi Bill Walsh and began to steady the ship before Wall was stumped by Brodie O’Dea of the bowling of Kroesen for 11. Todd Baker then joined Walsh, with the pair compiling a terrific partnership before Baker edged Rory Burns through to Brodie O’Dea for 42. Walsh followed soon after, bowled by Liam Livingstone for a well compiled 61. Canadian spinner Inderpreet Rhandhawa was next to go, caught by Nick Harrison off the bowling of Sam Leech for 8, with the Gillespie XI falling short of the mammoth target of 218, finishing on 7/185 at the closure of the innings. Brodie O’Dea with 93 was named man of the match, with awards also going to Todd Baker and Bill Walsh for their outstanding efforts.

At the completion of the match, the scholars enjoyed some outstanding Southern Flinders Ranges beef and some terrific hospitality from the locals. It is hoped that perhaps some of the players may return to Australia next summer for the Ashes series or perhaps the World Cup, the following summer. It was yet another high performance visit to the Lehmann/Gillespie Centre at Jamestown, with Australian players Dan Christian and Nathan Lyon paying a visit during the winter to help the region’s best young players.