THE signing of star batsman Ben Gunn headlines a recruiting splash by Golden Square ahead of its centenary season in the Bendigo District Cricket Association.
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Gunn rejoins Golden Square having previously played juniors at the club, as well as getting his first taste of first XI cricket in 2003-04.
In returning to Wade Street, 29-year-old Gunn reunites with two of his former team-mates in Tim Wood and Liam Smith, with the trio having all previously played together at Strathfieldsaye.
Following the end of his Premier Cricket career with Footscray-Edgewater, Gunn spent five seasons with Strathfieldsaye from 2008-09, before playing the past four with Bendigo United where he won both a flag – at the expense of Golden Square in 2013-14 – and the BDCA Cricketer of the Year in 2015-16.
“I was always going to head back to Golden Square at some stage and help the club out if possible,” says Gunn, who has a BDCA career average of 37.1.
“I probably only see myself playing cricket for the next few years and now is probably as good a time as any to go back to Square, especially being such a big year with the centenary.
“Leaving Bendigo United isn’t a decision I made just on the spot. They are such a great club and it has been an honour to have been able to play with the likes of Puggo (Heath Behrens), Mattress (Matt Pinniger), Crawf (Nick Crawford) and the like.
“To have played in a premiership with BUCCs is something I’ll definitely cherish, but I’ve made the decision to go back to Golden Square, who I’m looking forward to playing with again.”
Following the retirement of Bendigo United’s Heath Behrens, Gunn’s 13 centuries – eight for the Redbacks and five for the Jets – is the most in the BDCA among active players in the competition.
As well as Gunn returning, Golden Square also has two of its 2009 premiership players coming back to the club in left-arm quick Darren Clutton and top-order batsman David Hickman.
Paceman Saheed Akolade from Spring Gully has also signaled his intentions to join Square from the Crows to provide some more firepower to the attack, while the former Bendigo duo of opening batsman/keeper Kyle Chant and Tom Kirk are crossing to Golden Square, which has missed the first XI finals the past three seasons.
Rounding out Golden Square’s recruits is left-arm bowler Daniel Francis, who was a member of United’s EVCA division one premiership team in 2016.
Meanwhile, Golden Square will celebrate its centenary with a function at the All Seasons on February 17, which will include an inaugural Hall of Fame induction.