Friday column No.5 THE PROFESSIONALS

ANOTHER season rolls around, and the tides cast up another dozen young men on the shores of Dublin.

Once upon a time these professional recruits were mainly has-beens, never-weres or raw talents on the verge of a career. In those days the Leinster Cricket Union regulations made it difficult to employ anyone who was a current first-class (or limited-over equivalents) player, but a relaxing of the rules has upped the quality of recruits... in some cases.

This year a strong hand of young men has fetched up in Division One from New South Wales, a part of the world that has previously given us Dave Starkey, Dave Langford-Smith, Jeremy Bray, Rod Hokin and Trent Johnston, a contribution not to be sniffed at.

Several of the 2016 intake know each other well, which could mean a revival of the famous Major Tom’s nights out for the Dublin pros.

One warm day in February this year, Charlie Wakim and Daniel Solway walked to the wicket together, wearing the shirts of NSW U23s, and were only parted when they had clocked up a 154 opening stand. They will next meet on May 28th when Solway’s Pembroke side head over the East Link to Castle Avenue to take on Wakim’s Clontarf.

Incidentally, the Lost Irishman - Nick Larkin - scored 163 in the first innings of that game for New South Wales.

Wakim replaces Mick Grainger, who spearheaded Tarf’s cup win in 2015 and has won a Queensland training contract after failing to attract the Irish selectors. Wakim scored two centuries and a 96 in Sydney first grade this winter, and turned out for NSW in the Futures League with a top score of 78.

Compared to David Warner by one writer, he is a compact hitter who made 69* off 48 balls for the Sydney Sixers Academy side against an attack featuring Shaun Tait. Wakim was called up to the Sixers squad in the Big Bash League around new year and sat on the bench for two games without making the XI.

Daniel Solway plays for the famous Bankstown club that gave the world the Waughs. This season he played in the side that won both the First Grade grand final and the limited overs final.

He made 800 runs in all first grade competitions, scoring eight fifties including 55 in the Grand Final against Sydney CC.

His team-mate for much of that glorious season will be playing half a mile away this summer, as Kerrod White is Merrion’s new pro. The 22 year old is a former NSW U19 but played this winter for ACT in the U23 Futures League, scoring 43 runs at 10.7.

White’s best score of the winter was an unbeaten 226 against Hawkesbury, whose attack included former Terenure pro Shane Mott who later played for Netherlands and NSW 2nds. White also made three other 50s in a season’s total of 570 at 31.7.

A fourth Sydneysider is also based in Dublin 4, with YMCA bringing back James ‘Parky’ Parkinson who played with them in 2009 and 2010. He played a huge role in YM winning Section B in his first season, taking 42 wickets and 13 and averaging over 26 with the bat.

The following year was much less successful: 28 wickets at 22 and batting below 15. Parkinson played for NSW U17 under the captaincy of the late Phil Hughes and alongside Steve Smith and Sam Robson.

His best for the state was 7-17, including Marcus Stoinis, against Western Australia. For Parramatta this winter he took 17 wickets and scored 180 runs in 16 games, mostly at Second Grade, with a best score of 56 v Blacktown. He played just two First Grade games, taking 2-43 v Sutherland and 0-30 v Campbelltown-Camden.

YMCA have a second overseas player, the would-be Ireland international Seán Terry who played 14 First Grade games for Richmond, Perth, scoring 351 at 21.9 with a best of 87 v Ringwood. He also took 3-24 in 9.2 overs in his first bowl of the season v Greenvale Kangaroos but only got another 11 overs all season!

North County’s new pro is former Eastern Province (SA) under-19 Dylan Blignaut who also played in Australia this winter. He played for Brighton District in the Melbourne South Division where he topped the league run charts with almost 600 runs at 74, including four centuries in 12 games. Coincidentally, he finished second in the Victorian state run-making charts to his predecessor at Inch, Brenton Parchment.

Railway Union has strong ties to Sri Lanka and has recruited seam bowler Charith Fernando from the island for 2016. His full name, Guruge Charith Madushanka Fernando, should exercise Judy Cohen’s coloured pencils over the summer.

Charith has played eight FC games for Lankan CC and Ragama CC, with a highest score of 49 and a best bowling of 3-30. This winter he played ten limited overs and T20 games for the clubs, taking 22 wickets in 136 overs with a best of 7-36 against Moratuwa.

Phoenix pro Nicolaas Pretorius captained Old Paktonians in the B Division of the Johannesburg Premier League, but flying to Dublin meant he missed out on the last game which could have clinched the league. OP finished third, just two bonus points off promotion.

Pretorius had a good start to the campaign with several 40s and a 92, but his season tapered off to average just over 30. The gloveman also snatched 20 dismissals.

Klaas’s former club, The Hills, are doing without an overseas player having re-recruited Albert Van Der Merwe from over the Liffey and Max Sorensen back from over the Mary McAleese Bridge.