Welcome to another week’s addition of Tah Talk with Jay Lenton. This week Jay takes us through the return of Mickey Edwards to Sydney, Arabella Handley’s fine form and the success of the youth to start the season.
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BACK IN THE MICK OF TIME
One of Manly cricket’s favourite sons will walk through the arrivals hall at Sydney Airport on November 1, ready to renew a mutual love affair with the Tahs.
Fast bowler Mickey Edwards is returning home after two seasons with Yorkshire in the English county championship and plans to bleed blue for at least a few more seasons after stepping away from professional cricket.
The big fella is currently rehabbing from injury but hopes to be back bowling after Christmas.
If not bowling, he is happy to play as a batter somewhere in our grade system.
And Mickey is dreaming big.
Still only 29, he plans to keep running in with those long blond locks of his until we win another first grade premiership.
He is also happy to play a role in mentoring the new talent coming through the club, having been impressed with what he saw before heading overseas.
Off the field, Mickey’s not quite sure what’s next.
He recently finished a Finance & Economics degree in England and has been working as an accountant for Yorkshire since getting injured in April, but isn’t quite sold on that as career.
He likens his current state to a perpetual final year of high school, with people asking you want you want to do and not really having an answer.
He told Tah Talk: “The most enjoyable part of being a professional cricketer isn’t the cricket itself, it’s the places it takes you, the people you get to meet, and the experiences you have.
“For example, presenting (brother) Jack with his cap on his debut for NSW is a very cherished memory of mine.
“I believe my time in cricket – as a professional and for Manly – has played a huge part in shaping the person that I am today.”
In typical Mickey style, he added he is very much look forward to reacquainting himself with the Manly Wharf Bar upon his return!
The Tahs family can’t want to see you, mate.
ARABELLA’S BACK AMONG THE RUNS
While results didn’t go our way in the opening round of the women’s season, how good was it to see Arabella Handley back in the middle for the Brewer Shield (under-18) side!
The all-rounder missed most of last season with a lower lumbar stress fracture, which was picked up after Round 4.
She was allowed to build back up slowly from March, with 20 minutes in the nets at a time, just playing with a straight bat until back to full fitness.
The rehabilitation was hard work as she was feeling no pain but still had to be patient and limit her movement while allowing time to heal.
It meant no PE, no school camps or carnivals and, of course, no cricket.
Time on the sideline gave Arabella plenty of time to study the game as she prepared to take on the role of Brewers skipper for the 2024/25 campaign.
And I am pleased to report she made a great start in her comeback match, scoring 43 from 37 balls against St George-Sutherland.
All that hard work and perseverance paid off.
Her captaincy was also top notch, although a victory would have made things even sweeter.
Arabella tells me there’s great potential in her team and she’s confident of a successful season.
I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
YOUNG BLUEBLOODS THRIVING
Some of that young talent Mickey Edwards noted has been shining through in the early stages of the season.
The kids have been getting it done with both bat and ball.
Julian Osbourne, Roop Dhillon and Kai Croft all bagged 5-fers across various grades last weekend, while the previous week Axel Lacey and Henry Rogers notched up debut hundreds in impressive style.
It’s so pleasing to see these young guys grabbing their opportunities and running with it.
It’s a big set-up from the junior ranks to grade level but these blokes play like they’ve been around for a decade.
It’s a nod to our excellent junior pathway system and also the coaches who have brought this group – along with a talented cohort of similarly aged cricketers – through.
It might make some of us veteran players feel a bit old at times, but it’s pleasing to see the club’s future in such good hands.
