SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 07: Dawid Malan of England calls for medical assistance for Zac Crawley of England during day three of the Fourth Test Match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 07, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The Endeavour Hills Cricket Club has taken free-flowing swashbuckling local cricket to a new level, adding former ICC No.1 batsman Dawid Malan to their over-flowing list of International imports.
34-year-old Malan has made 1239 T20I runs at 41.30, 6863 T20 runs at 32.22, including five centuries, and recently took part in England's 4-0 Ashes loss to Australia last summer, making 244 runs at 24.40 from the five-Test series.
The Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association club plays in Victoria's second-tier state competition and now boasts a list worthy of a spot in the Big Bash.
Since the Eagles recruited former Sri Lankan Internationals Lahiru Thirimanne and Tillakaratne Dilshan last year, they have added former Pakistani Captain Shoaib Malik, West Indian fast-bowling slinger Fidel Edwards, promising West Indian paceman Matthew Forde, and the greatest T20 batsman in history, the Master Blast, Chris Gayle.
These players have decided to spend their time playing in the two-week local cricketing festival rather than in the heavily debated 14-match BBL tournament.
The obscene recruitment of players of this calibre is due to two of their local cricketers in Nav De Silva and Shiran Rajakaruna, who created a management company known as Global Talent entertainment.
The signing of Malan has introduced the yearlong debate of would a team of champions beat a champion team.
Many have called for the South-East club to spend their funded war chest on developing their junior pathways or increasing their facilities.
For many cricketing lovers, they will get a chance to see these stars in action for the Twilight T20 tournament on November the 25th.
Posted on their Facebook event, Endeavour Hills stated:
'This summer, for the first time ever, witness a T20 cricket festival like no other! The line-up features some of the greatest international superstars who will play alongside a mix of homegrown talent for Endeavour Hills Cricket club. Following which, a concert featuring well-known celebrity guest artists. This is an event not to be missed!'
*The VSDCA Twilight T20 tournament has no restriction on the quality of players they can recruit*