ST Mary’s-Tyntynder opening bowler and premiership captain Nathaniel Holmes-Brown is officially regarded as one of the best cricketers in the state, having been selected in the Victorian Country Cricket League team of the year.
Holmes-Brown was a standout in the Swan Hill & District Cricket Association, comfortably winning the league’s A Grade bowling aggregate award with 37 wickets at an astonishing average of just 6.49.
If that wasn’t impressive enough, the St Mary’s-Tyntynder speedster also claimed the SHDCA’s McDonald’s T20 leading bowler award, after taking nine wickets from his seven matches, to fall just four short of breaking the 50-wicket barrier.
The Bulldogs skipper was recognised at the recent unveiling of the team of the year in Melbourne, with Holmes-Brown telling The Guardian he was both shocked and proud to receive the phone call informing him of his selection.
“I didn’t even know that it was a thing, to be honest, it definitely took me by surprise,” Holmes-Brown said.
“It’s a big honour, it was pretty surreal to be in the company of some of the other players that were selected.
“I’ve always been a fairly consistent cricketer, but (last season) was probably my standout year with the ball.
“Sometimes you feel like you’re bowling without luck, in that you can be bowling really well but just not taking the wickets.
“But last year felt like one of those years where I did get rewarded. It was certainly an enjoyable year for both myself and the cricket club.”
It was not only an enjoyable season but a successful one, with Holmes-Brown’s first season in charge bringing with it a drought-breaking red-ball grand final victory against Wandella.
It was the Bulldogs’ first win in a red-ball grand final since 2004-05, with the club having been declared champions after finishing on top of the ladder in the COVID-affected 2019-20 season.
“I think the group is hungry for more success and we’re really setting our sights on winning all three titles this year,” Holmes-Brown said.
“We’ve been close to winning all three over the last few years, but we just keep missing out on one of them every year.
“It would be great to see our B Grade (side) make the finals again and keep building on the strong, successful, and fun culture we’ve got going on at the club currently.
“I’d never thought too much about the captaincy side of the game prior to last season, but it was a role I really enjoyed.
“We had a pretty easy group to get along with and to be the leader of. Hopefully I can continue to develop as a leader, whether that be with my cricket or football.”
While the sound of leather on willow is just around the corner for Holmes-Brown and the region’s cricketers, the newest member of the VCCL team of the year still has his sights set on more silverware – and helping Lake Boga’s seniors break their own longstanding premiership drought.
“I’ve really enjoyed my footy this year,” Holmes-Brown said.
“It’s been a bit of an up-and-down season in terms of our form, but at the end of the day, you want to be playing your best footy towards the back end of the season and I feel like we’re just starting to play our best footy now.”
