Press Release 05 September 2002

Hosking Returns To Kangaroo Flat

AFTER two seasons with Premier cricket club Northcote, wicket-keeper/batsman Andrew Hosking will return to the Kangaroo Flat Cricket Club for season 2002/03.

The 27-year-old played alongside Victorian stars Darren Berry and Michel Lewis as well as former Kangaroo Flat players Tim and Chris Welsford, while at the Dragons and is looking forward to passing on some of that experience to the club's many talented young cricketers.

"I've got lots of mates at Kangaroo Flat and tried to stay in contact when I wasn't playing here,'' Hosking said. "There are some very exciting young cricketers such as Aiden Butler-Bonnice, Kyle Phillips, Eamon Keena and Justin Faliszewski coming up from the juniors which can only make this club stronger.''

New KFCC coach Rodd Baker said he was looking forward to the challenge of coaching the club and working alongside Hosking and First XI captain Rod Wight. "Hosko grew up in Kangaroo Flat and has always been a popular bloke at this club,'' Baker said. "In his last season here, he represented the BDCA at Melbourne Country Week and has now played a lot of first XI cricket in Melbourne.

He's an opening batsman and an excellent keeper, so it's a big plus for us to have him back.''

Baker has also been heartened by the news that last year's club champion, all-rounder Michael Durbridge, has decided to pull on the green cap for another season. "Durbo has played with our club since Under 12s, his family is involved with our club and he is one of the best players in the competition,'' he said.

"When he moved to Melbourne for work we thought he might play down there, but he has decided to have another crack in 2002/03.''

The Roos were only two runs away from making last year's BDCA A grade grand final and are hoping for another successful season.

"We had a decent year last year, but there are a lot of things we can do better,'' said Baker. "We know that if each individual works hard to improve their own game, and our junior players continue their rapid development we should have another positive season.''

One of those junior players looking forward to the new season is youngster Aiden Butler-Bonnice. The level-headed 17-year-old impressed when given an opportunity at A grade level last year and will be pushing for further opportunities this year. "Aiden was fantastic when he stepped up last year and will definitely be in the mix for A grade selection again this year,'' Baker said.

"He's a wicket-keeper/batsman who has grown up playing for this club, and will definitely benefit from playing and training alongside players of the calibre of Hosko, Brad Orton, Tony Taig and Adam Burns.''