Welcome back to this week’s Tah Talk with Jay Lenton. This edition Jay speaks to the growth of Jack Edwards over the past few seasons, the longevity of the GOAT Ahillen Beadle, and the record breaking innings from Ella McCaughan on the weekend.
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JACK OF ALL TRADES
One of the great joys of my time playing at Manly has been watching the emergence of Jack Edwards from close range.
When I first met him he was still at school and representing the Australian under-19s as an all-rounder of tremendous promise.
Not all players kick on from junior level but you sensed there was something special about the man we call Jed.
This week he scored a fabulous 100 and backed it up with a second innings half-century in the Sheffield Shield game against Queensland.
He was also in charge of the Blues’ one-day side for the match against the Bulls on Thursday.
That’s on top of a good season with the Sydney Sixers in the BBL.
Jack knows he belongs at that elite level and is comfortable with his game – and that confidence is evident each time he takes the field.
To see Jed’s growth as a player and person over the past few years has filled everyone at Manly with great pride and joy.
He is one of our most popular players and a really great bloke to be around.
Still only 24, you will be hearing a lot more about Jack Edwards in the years to come.
AB’S ALL CLASS
I thought cricketers were supposed to decline once they hit their late 30s?
Not the one and only Ahillen Beadle.
The Manly veteran may be 38 but he’s still churning out runs by the truckload.
What a summer he’s having
He has scored three tons this season to sit eighth on the club’s all-time century list with 12.
Who’s to say AB won’t climb even further in the years to come?
Ahillen played Australian U-19s way back in 2003/04 but is seeing them better now than he ever has.
Long may his run continue.
ONE EL OF AN INNINGS
Almost three years to the day the old record was set, we have a new name at the top of the charts when it comes to highest scorer in our first grade women’s side.
Please step forward Ella McCaughan.
Ella peeled of an undefeated 140 in our limited overs win over Sydney last Sunday, smacking 15 fours at nearly a run a ball.
Her dig beats the previous best for a female player at Manly – Saskia Horley’s 129 against Universities in 2021/22.
Remarkably, Ella’s innings came on the same weekend (first week of February) Saskia belted her then record-breaking ton three years ago.
Sas was on a nice little run back then, scoring 98* and 123* in consecutive games before racking up the 129.
Let’s hope Ella can get on a similar roll.
She showed a mixture of patience and aggressive intent to carry her bat through the whole 50 overs in making it to three figures.
The Englishwoman has come a long way this season after getting to grips with Australian conditions and learning how to structure an innings of substance.
This was just reward for all the hard work she has been putting in and the Tahs – not surprisingly – are desperately hoping she’s keen to come back again next season.
