How Sandwich Cricket Club’s 2023 overseas James Bazley is following in the footsteps of Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne

Sandwich Town skipper Jan Gray has explained how former player Marnus Labuschagne helped introduce the club to their latest overseas recruit.

Australian Labuschagne starred for Sandwich in 2014 and the 28-year-old’s career has gone from strength-to-strength since.

While playing in the Garden of England, Labuschagne became friends with team-mate Rory Smith, who is also a semi-professional footballer.

Smith has since had stints living with Labuschagne Down Under where he first met James Bazley, who has become Sandwich’s latest overseas this summer.

Gray said: “Rory is very good friends with Marnus Labuschagne who was the overseas about 10 years ago.

“I understand Marnus and James are good friends.

“When Rory has met up with Marnus and stayed with him, that’s how he got to know James over the years.”

Bazley, also 28, played a key role as a cracking contest went down to the wire when Sandwich beat Holmesdale by one run in their opening Kent League Premier Division game of the campaign on Saturday.

He blasted a half-century and got among the wickets.

But Gray warned: “We will not put too much pressure on James.

“A lot of people come overseas and it’s tough, people feel they need to be the best player in the team at every game.

“But James is an exceptional cricketer, he showed that at the weekend, especially with his batting.

“He was different class and hit the ball a very long way -which was good for us to watch!”

Holmesdale had won the toss, skipper Anthony Bissett electing to field, but, with the score 59-2, Town’s Zack Fagg steadied the ship.

He put on 104 for the third wicket with Bazley, who hit three sixes in his 40-ball 58.

Fagg (71) was the fourth wicket to fall, leaving No.8 Tom Burnap to add 31 from 38 balls.

“Zach,