Midland-Guildford Cricket Club has recruited star all-rounder Tim Armstrong.
Camera IconMidland-Guildford Cricket Club has recruited star all-rounder Tim Armstrong. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

New recruit a strong all-rounder

Joel Kelly, Midland ReporterMidland Kalamunda Reporter

Last season, he was the First Grade District Cricket Competition’s third top scorer with 779 runs at 51.93, including two centuries, and took 32 wickets at 16.81.

His consistent efforts easily earned him the competition’s Olly Cooley medal, the top award in first grade previously won by former Perth Scorchers batsmen Craig Simmons.

Now the all-rounder hopes to continue knocking hard at the door for WA selection, having represented Australia at under-19 level, New South Wales, Sydney Thunder and WA.

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The MGCC’s rich fabric of youth talent will aim to soak up some of Armstrong’s lessons as the ambitious right-hander seeks to lift the club into the first-grade finals following a couple of disappointing seasons.

‘My ambitions this year is to continue doing well from a personal point of view, to score more runs and take more wickets,’ he said.

‘I want to take this club forward because there’s a good group of guys here and a lot of youth so I hope to help out a lot of the younger guys in their transition from second and third grade to first grade and on to state representative honours as well.’

The youngster is still warming to the task at his new district club. His batting has been a little shaky but his bowling has been steady.

Armstrong could only score four runs in his Midland debut on October 4 then was out for a nine-ball duck against Gosnells on Saturday. He didn’t fare much better in Sunday’s T20 clash against Bayswater-Morley, scoring just five runs.

But following an impressive debut of 0/27 from 10 overs on October 4 he backed up his good bowling performance with a solid 1/22 off nine overs on Saturday. His spell included four maidens.

As for Armstrong’s push to get to the next level, Warriors coach Justin Langer has advised him to keep doing what he has been and selection would eventually take care of itself.

Last year was a setback for Armstrong after an alcohol-related incident in Brisbane meant he was sanctioned and unavailable for State selection.

But his stellar season saw him move on and prove his desire to get to the next level.

‘I’ve had a good chat with Justin Langer and also the chairman of selectors so I’m pretty clear about what I need to do, and it’s not anything drastically different,’ he said.

‘I had a good year last year but I need to continue doing that to ensure that I keep putting my name in front of people, I don’t want a flash in the pan sort of career.’

‘As a batsmen you need to score those hundreds, and even 150s or 200s, to win games and also make a statement.’

‘I have an ambition to wear the baggy green and I think I’m still on the right path to do that.’