Worcestershire pace bowlers Josh Tongue and Pat Brown are heading to Cape Town to play club cricket in the New Year.
Tonguey is to play for Kraaifontein, and Brown is joining St. Augustine, the club where Worcestershire legend, Basil D’Oliveira, started his career.
They will join Worcestershire keeper-batter Gareth Roderick (Green Point) in playing in the Western Province Cricket Association Premier Division.
Roderick flew out to South Africa immediately after the end of the 2022 domestic season at New Road and has produced a string of fine performances this winter.
Worcestershire newcomer, all-rounder Matthew Waite, is also to undergo warm weather training in Cape Town for a six-week spell and will fly out in January.
Tongue, who flies out to Cape Town on January 3, has impressed Head Coach Alan Richardson during winter training after launching his playing comeback from a long-term shoulder injury during the final part of last season.
Richardson said: “He is training really well and has been impressive and showing a real drive, and there is fire in his eyes.
“You watch him now, and there is a real hunger for him to keep progressing. He’s been through a lot during the last 18 months, both on and off the field.
“He is a new dad, so it gives you a new perspective on life. He had some really tough times and didn’t quite know what the future held for him.
“Now he has got those opportunities back, he is enjoying it, and it is an absolute pleasure to work with him. It is a pleasure to watch him work.
“He is going away for a couple of months in the New Year to continue his cricketing journey and education. It is a great opportunity for him in South Africa.
“We should have four guys in Cape Town in the New Year. Matthew Waite is going to go over at the end of January and train, and Pat Brown is going to St. Augustine’s, Basil D’Oliveira’s club.
“He will go from the T20 tournament in Nepal straight to South Africa.
“We owe St. Augustine’s a lot because they educated Basil in the game of cricket, and Worcestershire benefitted hugely from the D’Oliveira legacy.
“With Gareth (Roderick) already out there, It will be great to have those four in Cape Town.”
Basil D’Oliveira used to walk ten miles from home on every match day morning to help prepare the matted wicket that St. Augustine’s used to play on before going on to find fame with Worcestershire and England.
Current Worcestershire Club Captain and Basil’s grandson, Brett, also had a spell playing for St. Augustine’s during the winter of 2015-2016.
Olly Cox – Eastern Suburbs, Australia
Worcestershire batter, Olly Cox, is back home after two and a half months Down Under.
Cox has had a short spell playing for Eastern Suburbs in the New South Wales first grade, hitting a century on his debut against Gordon.
He also participated in the International Cricket Programme in Sydney from mid-October.
Gareth Roderick – Green Point, South Africa
New Green Point captain, Gareth Roderick, led his side to a three-wicket win over Rylands in the Western Province Cricket Association Premier Division.
Roderick put Rylands into bat, and he took one catch as they were dismissed for 159 off 38.3 overs.
He then hit a quickfire 18, including a six over off Adam Scher, but an unbeaten 53 from opener Zak Elkin was primarily responsible for steering Green Point to 161-7 in 43.5 overs.
Roderick and Green Point had also been scheduled to play on Friday, but rain restricted opponents Hollywoodbets to 14-0 before the game was abandoned.
Henry Cullen – Plenty Valley, Australia
Henry Cullen struck 31 for Plenty Valley, but they went down by 31 runs to leaders Ormond in a Victoria Cricket Association encounter.
Cullen put on 58 for the second wicket with Nanam Sharma, but Plenty Valley closed on 181-9 from their 45 overs.
He had earlier taken three catches, including one to dismiss top scorer Ben Speake (83), in an Ormond total of 212-8.
Ben Gibbon – Willetton, Australia
Ben Gibbon’s side, Willetton, were bowled out for 56 in 22,3 overs and lost by seven wickets to Fremantle in the Western Australia Cricket Association first grade competition.
Gibbon finished with figures of 6-1-25-0 as Fremantle reached their target in 12.3 overs.
Dillon Pennington – Adelaide, Australia
Dillon Pennington returned for action for the first time since the end of last season on day one of Adelaide’s meeting with East Torrens.
Pennington was able to get 16 overs under his belt at the cost of 46 runs in an East Torrens total of 339-9 declared.
He held onto three catches before Adelaide were bowled out on day two for 240 in 71.3 overs and went down by 99 runs.
