Cricketers Matt Taylor and Griegan French have landed in Deni from England, and are ready to make the most of their experience as part of the local cricketing scene.

The Deniliquin Rhinos Cricket Club imports arrived in Australia last Wednesday evening.

After then driving to Deniliquin, it was a 27-hour trip plus stopovers since leaving Heathrow Airport.

Catching up with the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin on Friday, Matt said he travelled well, but for Griegan the trip was “rough”.

However, the pair have already been busy setting up their arrangements and have already squeezed in a net session or two.

The pair are here until March, which is when the Murray Valley Cricket Association season concludes with finals.

They’ve been supported in finding local employment during their stay, which will enable them to experience life and cricket in Australia.

Both players come across from cricket teams in central England.

Matt is from Johannesburg, South Africa originally and has spent the last four years plying his cricketing trade in England.

Most recently he played with Chesterfield Cricket Club in the 1st XI in Derbyshire, near Sheffield or Manchester. The 1st team was recently promoted to the first of ten divisions.

Matt is a fast-bowling all-rounder and had a successful season with Chesterfield, taking 33 wickets at a bowling average of 21.18.

His best bowling figures are 6/33 while making 129 runs with the bat and an average 32.25.

Griegan has played at Bedworth Cricket Club in the 1st XI in Warwickshire, just outside of Birmingham, which has up to 20 divisions of amateur cricket.

Having a similarly strong season, Griegan is an opening batsman who can bowl a little.

He scored 804 runs during the season, which included two centuries. His batting average is 34.96.

He also snagged eight wickets, with a bowling average of 24.88 for Bedworth.

The pair have settled down into their living arrangements, and are looking to share the Deni experience with their respective partners.

Griegan’s arrived just a few days after he did, while Matt’s partner will join him in Deni in November.

When asked about the experience so far, Griegan replied: “It has been what I expected, but kind of not also.”

“I’m most looking forward to the wildlife,” he said.

“We saw a kookaburra this morning. That was pretty amazing; it looked like a toy.”

Matt said he’d felt welcomed in Deni, and was looking forward to summer temperatures which would rival those he grew up with in South Africa.

“Everyone’s been really nice so far,” he said.

“I can’t wait for the heat”

The Murray Valley Cricket Association season is expected to kick off on Saturday, October 12.

Arriving well ahead of the season not only allows the imports to acclimatise and gel with their teammates, it also gives them the change to experience some great Aussie traditions.

They arrived in time to experience the Murray League football and netball grand finals in Moama at the week, the fanfare that surrounds the AFL grand final this weekend and the Deni Ute Muster a week later.

The pair have been recruited into the Deni Rhinos A-grade side to not only help the team improve performance this year, but also to help generate interest in adult and junior cricket locally.

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Sunday, 12th May 2024

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