Ballarat-Redan recruit Chris Edwards is keen to repay the faith. PICTURE: ADAM TRAFFORD
REPAYING the faith is high on the agenda for young Ballarat-Redan recruit Chris Edwards.
The 19-year-old is being touted as a key pick-up for the Combine this Ballarat Cricket Association season, after joining from Narre Warren.
Edwards moved to the region this year to study nursing and paramedics at Australian Catholic University, and after a few sessions training with the club late last season, has become a full-fledged member of the Two Swords.
“I just want to put in a good, consistent performance every week and prove that they chased me for a good reason,” Edwards said.
“The club is putting me through a sponsorship and (captain-coach) Matt Hoey is looking for a job for me. I want to prove that I’m worth their time.”
Edwards said the option of commuting back home to play in the Dandenong District Cricket Association was never really an option.
“I just couldn’t afford to go back home and wanted to try something different and meet some new people,” he said.
“It’s been good. I like the guys down there.”
Edwards collected a couple of junior league bowling averages back in his home competition, as well as a seconds aggregate a few years ago.
He has already been earmarked as an opening bowler for the Combine this season, and is expected to mark his first eleven debut tomorrow by being thrown the new ball alongside former EJ Cleary Medallist Simon Allan.
Edwards will be looking to add further triumph to his brief time in Ballarat this summer, having played in Redan’s Ballarat Football League reserves premiership last month.
The Combine can only hope some of that success rubs off this campaign.