Sport
22 November, 2024
Colts Phelans’ Harrison Kurzke ready to take his talents all the way to Claverham Cricket Club
With a galaxy of young talents already lighting up the Maryborough District Cricket Association (MDCA), Harrison Kurzke could perhaps call himself a trailblazer for a group of impressionable young cricketers.
The Colts all-rounder is readying himself for the experience of a lifetime, scoring a spot with the Claverham Cricket Club in Bristol for their 2025 season.
Kurzke, a mainstay in many MDCA junior Country Week teams, including the much-anticipated return to the Kirton Shield over the last few years, has been a constant run-scorer and wicket-taker across the junior grades, and has continued to find his feet across Colts’ A grade team as he continues his development.
With Kurzke’s cousin, Mitchell Bench, moving across to England to try his hand at playing cricket there, it piqued Harrison’s interest in making his own mark.
“He did that back in 2017. It was a good experience for him, and I dreamt of that experience ever since, so it’s good to have that opportunity,” he said.
It was the arrival of English trio Ed Foreman, Callum Watts and Matt Scott in the 2022/23 season and a chance meeting with Watts’ family which allowed Kurzke to make his dream a reality this season.
“A couple of years ago, we had Callum Watts come here, and his family came over and visited him while he played for our club,” Kurzke said.
“I told them about our plans and they said I am welcome to stay with them and welcome to come play for the club, so it brought about the whole opportunity, thinking that it might be a reality.”
Kurzke is hoping his experiences helps others explore the possibility of making a big move in their life as well.
“There’s a lot of good players throughout the MDCA, and I’m happy to be one of them and have this opportunity come up. The other boys would be lucky to have the same chance, but for me, I feel it will help me so much. It’s amazing, it’s all I can say,” he said.
Kurzke, a vice-captain at Highview College this year, says he has intently focused on getting the best out of himself at training after completing his exams.
“I’ve been looking to get to as many training sessions as possible. I have been a bit pre-occupied with exams, but now that I’m done, it’s 100 per cent motivation from here on to be the best I can be before I head off to England,” he said.
That experience includes leaning on Colts’ new English trio for this season, with Max Jackson, Regan Goundry and Charlie Scorer certainly handy names to learn from throughout the season.
“There’s been a few chats. I haven’t had a great deal of time to catch up yet, but I’ve been told I’ll go well, it’ll be a good experience, and make the best of this chance, really,” he said.
However, Kurzke will look to learn from many others who have also had the experience of playing in England across the competition.
“It’s always good to have people who have played in England, so I can get tips, advice and see what’s going to happen so I can prepare myself both physically and mentally with my cricket,” he said.
Kurzke admits there is plenty he has to learn before he makes his life-changing trip.
In particular, Kurzke will be keen to learn a lot more about the way the Duke ball — England’s choice of ball — plays on the pitch compared to the Kookaburra ball, while the pitches have generally been a little bit more spongy than Australia’s hard decks.
“I’m hoping to get my hands on the Duke ball eventually before I go over, have a bowl with it and see how I go. With the spongy pitches, I think it’ll be all about having the right mindset, adapting to it and challenging myself,” he said.
Before that, however, there’s unfinished business to attend to this season with Colts.
The boys in blue are well in the frame to compete for both the one-day and two-day premierships, sitting in second position on the ladder after four games, behind runaway leaders Laanecoorie Dunolly.
However, Kurzke believes Colts are able to challenge if they play their best cricket.
“(Laane) are a strong side, they bat deep and have a great bowling order, but I feel we can be quite a match if we work hard, communicate and play our best cricket, we can challenge them,” he said.