TRAVELLING Nestles cricketer Cameron Williams has belted three centuries in a fortnight as he stamps his authority on English cricket.
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The 19-year-old left-hander has posted 126 and 156 not out, as well as a remarkable 142 in a Twenty20 match, playing twice a week for Scarcroft Cricket Club.
Scarcroft, about 10 kilometres from Leeds, plays 45-over cricket in the Wetherby Cricket League (WCL) on Saturdays and is fifth in division one.
The West Yorkshire club also plays Twenty20 cricket in the Harrogate and District Evening League on Wednesdays, where it is second in division four.
Williams had never scored a ton before venturing overseas, although his big two weeks also featured a duck in a Twenty20 match.
He said he was loving England, despite the unseasonal weather.
“England is great — wet and cold, but great,” he said.
“Everyone from the club has been great in fitting me straight in with the group.
“I am just more surprised with the weather. The rain has been constant.”
Williams said the standard of the WCL was on par with the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association.
He said smaller and faster ovals meant making runs was easier for top-order batsmen, but they had to play aggressive enough to take advantage of the conditions.
“There weren’t really any chances, not being arrogant,” he said.
“The main thing is I have to not look for a bad ball (and) try hitting everything for six, because it’s smaller grounds.
“I’m opening the batting but not wicketkeeping. They already have a keeper, but it doesn’t worry me. I’m happy to just bat and do my part for the team.”
Williams will return to Australia after the WCL season wraps up in September.
He will co-captain Nestles with Scott Kelly as the Factory aims to go one better than its runner-up finish in season 2011-12.
But for the time being, Williams said he was relishing “being able to play cricket all year round”.
“It’s pretty cool saying I went over to the other side of the world just to play a game of cricket. I hope it makes me a better player,” he said.
“I just want to take as much as I can in so I can try and bring that back to Nestles and be up there for the premiership this coming season.
“I’d love to move into a better standard, of course, but I’m very happy where I am at the moment and playing some good cricket, so I can’t argue with that.”
afawkes@standard.fairfax.com.au
