By JARROD POTTER
“YOU’RE in.”
Nathan Lambden returned to the sheds on Saturday with an interesting text message waiting for him.
The Casey-South Melbourne spearhead had received his call up to the Victorian Premier Cricket All Stars side, which took on the Melbourne Stars in an exhibition Twenty20 match on Sunday at Casey Fields.
Lambden, 22, from Cranbourne, was on standby most of the week – after injuries decimated a few original squad members – but getting that news on Saturday presented a huge opportunity for Lambden to charge in against the Stars.
“Got called Thursday at work, and I was pretty happy with that – was on standby at that stage and wasn’t really confirmed that I’d be playing,” Lambden said.
“I was batting on Saturday and came off at the tea break and got a message saying, I was in and had to be in there early on Sunday.”
It wasn’t easy going for Lambden, who finished up with 2/58 from his four overs as the Stars ramped up the run-rate.
While the All Stars were given a bit of a batting lesson by the Stars – who amassed 3/283 – Lambden thought the experience was priceless as it showed him what it takes to stop the best.
“It was very challenging, but was an awesome experience,” Lambden said. “Bowling to blokes who’ve played international cricket and state cricket and seeing the massive difference between premier cricket and the Stars – it was a massive, massive step up.”
“They really cash in on the bad balls – literally have to hit the spot every ball … if you’re a fraction full or wide they make you pay.”
While he isn’t a bunny with the blade, Lambden was the last man sent to the crease in a power-packed Premier All Stars batting attack, but didn’t let his demotion down the order worry him.
“I don’t mind it – got the opportunity to go out there and there was no pressure batting at 11 and only had three or four overs, so I had some fun with Ejaaz (Alavi) and was lucky enough to get onto a couple.”
By get onto a couple Lambden actually smashed the Big Bash bowlers about in his 27 off 15 balls including a few swatted sixes to help the All Stars finish on 9/177.
Lambden’s switch to Casey-South Melbourne this season is starting to reap rewards as he’s taken 23 wickets at 18, including 7-65 against Monash.
While the Swans’ 2-8 record looks bad on paper, Lambden thinks the side has been in the hunt more often than not, and just needs to finish the job they have often started.
“Loving it- absolutely loving it – fresh new start and got wonderful coaches and the whole club have welcomed me in and I’m fitting in well,” Lambden said. “The worst thing about the start is probably three or four of the first six games we were in the game for about 80 per cent of the time.
“We’d lose wickets in a bunch or a partnership would get away … only a couple of games were we really flogged, like the Monash game.
“But you learn those things, and the club is so young and the two wins – you can see the belief and confidence and training has gone up another step and Saturday is another big opportunity.”
The Premier All-Stars play the Melbourne Renegades at the Junction Oval from 4pm on Tuesday.
