Henley teenager shines down under

WHILE it has been an Ashes tour to forget for England down under — bar their fourth test success at Melbourne — things have been going far better for Henley Cricket Club teenager Connor Lamsdale.

The former Peppard Stoke Row all-rounder has enjoyed a fine start to life at Sturt CC in Adelaide, most notably taking a hat-trick during their Second Grade round four victory versus West Torrens.

It came during an impressive performance which saw the 18-year old score 48 in his side’s total of 234, before going on to record remarkable bowling figures of 7-22 from 24.2 overs.

The Berkshire left-arm spinner’s hat-trick saw Wests dismissed for 157 and has since seen him to progress to the first team, where Sturt have former England captain Michael Atherton’s son Josh de Caires also enjoying a decent start to life in Australia.

There has been a link between Sturt and Henley since wicket-keeper Todd Ferguson became the Brakspear Ground’s overseas player in the early 2000s, with current captain Tom Nugent and former skipper Michael Roberts spending winters in Adelaide.

Another Henley youth and Lamsdale’s fellow ex-Abingdon School alumnus Charlie Hunt has also enjoyed success recently.

Hunt smashed 150 for Taradale CC against Cornwall in the Hawkes Bay Cricket Association competition in Napier, New Zealand.