GRAEME JONES knows a decent cricketer when he sees one. In his years at Firwood Bootle and Colwyn Bay, the long-serving wicketkeeper has had the chance to observe every high-quality batsman produced in the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition over the last decade or more.
So when Jones assessed Justin Waller’s 140 not out in Formby’s three-wicket defeat of Colwyn Bay in June as “one of the best innings this league has ever seen” it was probably time to take serious notice of the 21-year-old opening batsman who is the latest in a prestigious line of cricketers to hold the New South Wales cricket scholarship.
Needing 10 runs off the last three balls to win that game, the Sydney first-grade cricketer deposited Paul Jenkins’s first two deliveries into the tennis courts at Cricket Path, and many other matches have proved that Waller’s innings that midsummer afternoon was in no way a flash in the pan.
Going into Formby’s crucial home game against Northern tomorrow, the Eastern Suburbs batsman is the Premier League’s leading scorer with 877 runs at an average of 54.8. In a tough season for his club Waller has led the fight against relegation with a string of impressive knocks.
“Justin has been absolutely superb,” said Formby skipper Andy Halpin. “With everything that’s happened at the club it’s been vital to have someone with experience and ability who can also help the young players and give me advice on the field.”
The player himself has relished the chance to test his skills in English conditions. “Everyone talked about the differences between English and Australian wickets but I arrived here on the Thursday before the season began and scored a century in my first match, so that wasn’t too bad a start,” he points out.
“But two weeks later we played at Hightown on a wicket which was an absolute pudding and I’ve never had to work as hard to make 19.
“I think a lot of people have a stereotypical view of Australian wickets as flat, quick and hard, but you get slow and grassy tracks there too. It’s just a question of adjusting and maybe my batting suits English conditions.”
The words are those of a young man who seems self-aware, thoughtful and focused beyond his years, as befits a Sydney University student whose ambition “like anybody” is to play cricket for Australia.
TOMORROW : Business Assistance Liverpool Competition: ECB Premier League: Formby v Northern, Lytham v Wallasey, New Brighton v Hightown, Northop Hall v Firwood Bootle, Ormskirk v Prestatyn, Southport and Birkdale v Newton-le-Willows. First Division: Ainsdale v Liverpool, Burscough v Leigh, Orrell Red Triangle v Skelmersdale, Rainford v Maghull, Rainhill v Highfield, St Helens Recs v Wigan, Sefton Park v St Helens.
