Harbledown Cricket Club | Canterbury

Shieldsy joined HCC at the same time as PJ and Simo and completes the Club’s Australian triumvirate. He looks and acts how I imagine a young Rupert George would have done.

The most impressive thing about Shieldsy is his understanding of Star Wars. Being able to talk knowledgably about, “doing the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs” and “bulls-eyeing wamprats in my T16 back home” has allowed him to fit seamlessly into the Club. Equally, the fact that Shieldsy has taken the trouble to watch the entire Sharpe box set, unprompted, is a feat worthy of our reverence. That he now fully understands the cry of “chosen men” is to his immense credit.

On the pitch Shieldsy is a dashing batsman who likes to play his shots. He will always be remembered for turning up at Polo Farm 20 minutes late, on only one hours sleep, having been to an all night rave in the countryside. Not only did he turn up late, he went in at number 3 and battered 127* as the club chased down an improbable 260 in 39 overs.

He is a fine fielder with a bullet of an arm and an excellent pair of hands. He can also bowl tidy off breaks.