AFTER four games, Portland Colts sit a game clear atop the Hamilton District Cricket Association and the team’s young English import, Jak Hotchkiss, is keen to help his new club to glory this season.

The 19-year-old, who joined the team this season after making the long flight from Doncaster early last month, has quickly become one of Colts most important players with ball in hand.

 One of the association’s most efficient quick bowlers so far, Hotchkiss tore through Gorae-Portland’s middle-order last round, taking four wickets for just 20 runs from his 10 overs, to dismiss Go-Ports for just 67 runs.

But when he is back home playing in the Yorkshire Cricket Southern Premier League for Doncaster Town, Hotchkiss said his impact was usually made with the willow.

“I’d say I’m predominately a batting all-rounder,” he said.

“I don’t really bowl that much back home but it’s a side of my game that I’m looking to develop while I’m here.

“Back in England players are very much categorised, you’re either a batsman or a bowler.

“There aren’t a lot of genuine all-rounders, but that’s where I want to make my statement and build a name for myself.

“As an all-rounder, if you don't make it with the bat in a game, then you can go and do it with the ball and vice versa.”

Having recently broken into the first eleven at Doncaster Town, Hotchkiss has shared the field with some big names, including a Tasmanian and Australia A batsman and an IPL star.

“Tasmania’s Caleb Jewell plays at Doncaster Town, as did Punjab Kings IPL player Harpreet Singh,” Hotchkiss said.
“I saw (Singh) absolutely tee off from the other end of the pitch one match when I’d first broke into the team.

“We performed pretty strongly last season, finishing third in the national T20 Cup.

“We were unlucky not to make the final, and you’re going up against teams that have some absolutely quality players playing for them.”

While the names are not as big here in Portland, the standard of the game is still keeping Hotchkiss on his toes.

“It’s a competitive standard of cricket over here,” he said.

“I'm really enjoying it, but I guess it is kind of also like comparing two entirely different sports at times.

“The pitches are all a lot different to what I’m used to back home, back in England the ball comes through a lot lower and slower.

“The bowlers here really benefit from that extra yard of pace that the pitch gives and it can make them that bit deceiving.”

Living with Colts president and current league-leading run scorer James Chapple, Hotchkiss said he had felt very welcomed by the Chapples and Australia and enjoyed celebrating his nineteenth birthday in his first week in the country.

“What I’ve seen of Australia has been beautiful so far, I’m also loving the cafe culture,” he said.

“That and all the socialising have probably been the best bits so far, I’ve been loving doing a bit of fishing as well.

“I’ve not caught too many yet because I don't know the local spots, but I've got a few fisherman's numbers now and have organised a couple of trips.”

But if there is one thing Hotchkiss has his sights set on achieving before returning home, it’s lifting silverware with Colts.

“I’m a very competitive person,” he said.

“I can leave Australia having helped Colts have the club’s name engraved on some silverware then I will leave feeling like I've achieved what I was chasing.”