Matthew Boglis has signed at Yarraville Club Cricket Club and hasn’t wasted any time getting in among the wickets. 42203Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By Liam Twomey
YARRAVILLE Club Cricket Club batsman Anthony Cristofaro already has a century to his name after two rounds of competition in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.
However, the opening batsman also did some of his best work for the Clubbers in the off-season when he informed them his former team-mate and talented leg spinner Matthew Boglis was looking for a new home.
“It was just word of mouth from Anthony who used to play with Matt at Altona. We got a whisper that Matt was keen on looking at different things in his career,” Yarraville president John Strachan said.
Yarraville contacted Altona to see if they could begin talks with Boglis about signing with the club and once they got the all clear, started the chase for their man.
Just two rounds into the new season the decision to sign Boglis is paying dividends with seven opposition batsmen making up his hit list.
After winning the last two VTCA premierships it’s a scary thought for the rest of the competition that Yarraville is even stronger in 2011/12.
“A spinner doesn’t expect to get a lot of overs in a one-day match but we needed him the first game to come on and he did that and picked up four wickets off about seven overs to get 4/20,” Strachan said.
“He just showed how versatile he is in both forms of the game, the two-day and one-day, which is great for us because it just gives us more depth in that bowling department.
“We have been looking for a top-line spinner for many years and we believe that Matty really fits the bill and fits in with our style of cricket here at the club.”
Boglis isn’t just fitting in well on the field, he is also embracing the club off it. Strachan was rapt he had been working at training with some of the club’s young up-and-coming spin bowlers.
“He has a wealth of knowledge and it doesn’t matter if they are a leg spinner or an off spinner, he is just going to be able to teach them important things,” Strachan said.
“He is one of those nice young guys who is willing to go that extra step and help out anybody around the club.”
In more bad news for the rest of the competition, Boglis is handy with the bat as well. With Yarraville having a history of a wagging tail in big games it won’t be a surprise to anyone if there are some big partnerships to come.
“We looked at his figures and Matt is one of those ones who has proven that they can stay in there and hold a bat at the end of the innings,” Strachan said.
“He has been there at the end and been able to hold up an end with a batsman so we think that he will be able to do the same at our level of cricket if he is called upon to hold his position with the bat.”
