Highton relishes short stint of dynamic international batsman

IT’S NOT every week a player with international experience opens the batting for your side, but that’s what Highton is making the most of over the opening month of the GCA firsts season.

Scott Edwards has played 25 Twenty20s internationals and four one-day internationals for the Netherlands, with the dynamic batsman holding the world record for the fastest T10 century and the highest individual T10 score, belting 137 not out off 39 balls in the 2019 European Cricket League.

Edwards was born in Tonga, grew up in Australia and qualifies to play for Netherlands through his Dutch grandmother. The 24-year-old is in Australia to play in the Victorian Premier League but that does not start until November 22, and Edwards was eager to play some cricket in the interim.

His premier cricket coach at Richmond used to coach Highton, and given Edwards is living in Geelong at the moment, he finds himself at the top of the order for Highton.

Edwards wasted no time showing what he was capable off, making 121 off 115 balls in round one and then 42 against Newtown & Chilwell on the weekend.

Highton coach Hayden Murrell said Edwards’ influence had been huge, not just with the bat but also with his knowledge and experience on the training track.

“He’s certainly a class above.

“We’ll have him for a short time, he’s certainly been worth it – not just what he’s brought on the field but his coaching off the field; what he’s brought has been phenomenal.”

Highton was promoted into GCA1 this year after a strong 2019/20 campaign in GCA2. Murrell said his group was focused on improving each week, but made it clear his side was not simply making up the numbers.

“We knew it was going to be a big step up and our focus was all about improving and competing.

“But we don’t just want to improve, we want to win every game… that’s pretty tough obviously, but we want that expectation.”