NORTHERN Ireland native Aditya Adey didn’t take long to make an impact on this season’s Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade competition, racking up a vital half century in Bathurst City’s opening round win.
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Adey linked up with the Redbacks after City president Matt Willis got in touch with contacts he made from his stint in Northern Ireland 12 years ago.
He arrives in Australia fresh off his home season of Northern Cricket Union Premier League cricket and made an impressive start to his one-year overseas stint.
In the contest against City Colts at Loco Oval it was Adey’s 73 and Cohen Schubert’s unbeaten 62 which took a new-look Redbacks team to victory.
Adey started his cricketing career later than most players but quickly rose through the rankings.
He’s hopeful a season in Australia can take his game to another level.
“I started with Muckamore Cricket Club back in Northern Ireland. I started playing when I was 12 years old and I’ve played for their first grade team in Premier League,” he said.
“I was also in the Emerging Knights, which is very close to playing first class cricket over there. Hopefully one day I’ll be playing first class cricket. That’s the dream.
“Hopefully I can go back there and perform even better.”
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Adey and Schubert combined for a 137-run stand on Saturday.
After a tricky start to his innings on an unfamiliar pitch Adey found his rhythm.
“The wicket was very tacky and ball would sometimes spit and nibble about a wee bit early on but other than that it was decent to play on,” he said.
“The team is great and it’s great to have so many younger guys in the team because I gel with them so easily.
“There’s Matt and Joey [Coughlan,captain] as well who have brought me into the team and help me feel comfortable.”
In his recent Premier League season in Northern Ireland Adey had some standout performances in a tough season for Muckamore.
He scored three half centuries, two of which came back-to-back.
Adey also enjoys a stint with the ball. He picked up a wicket in his Redbacks debut and found 11 wickets in Premier League.
Willis has been thrilled with what Adey has brought to the club early in the season.
“We didn’t want to leave the club battling for wooden spoons and we didn’t want to be struggling for player numbers so we thought it would be great to have someone come over here to help coach our juniors,” he said.
“I think Joey has stood up a lot so far, and turned a lot of the boys around, and Cohen was proof of that on the weekend.”
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
