CRICKET – BAHRAIN-BORN English cricketer George Axtell is set to take his talents Down Under.
In the span of just a few short hours, the 22-year-old seamer went from being an up-and-coming young standout, rising in the ranks of British cricket, to signing with one of Australia’s most celebrated clubs.
Axtell has been showcasing his limitless potential ever since his childhood days growing up in the kingdom, but he will soon be taking on his biggest challenge yet when he steps out for Port Melbourne Cricket Club in the highly competitive Victorian Sub District Cricket Association (VSDCA) – one of the premier cricket competitions in the Australian state of Victoria.
And while he had been honing his skills his entire life, the next chapter in his journey toward the sport’s highest levels was written almost instantaneously.
“Having been recommended to contact an agent, I sent over my statistics and videos of me bowling, and within four hours there was a club interested, and 24 hours later I had signed the contract,” Axtell told the GDN from the English city of Bath, where he currently resides.
“Port Melbourne Cricket Club is one of the oldest clubs in Australia and was one of the founding members of the leagues there.
“Australian cricket is known for its competitive and fiery nature. Having this experience will help me grow as a person and as a player. You need to challenge yourself to improve.”
Axtell will be graduating from the University of Bath next month, and is currently a player for Bath Cricket Club in the West of England Premier League – a designated England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Premier League competition.
He is set to begin his tenure at Port Melbourne in the 2024-25 VSDCA season, but even as a rookie, he is already expected to play a major role in the team. Port Melbourne have hand-picked Axtell to replace 2023-24 VSDCA Team of the Year player Lewis O’Donell, who has left to return to his home country.
“They have recruited me as their first team overseas bowling professional and I’m replacing a Scotland bowler, who took the second highest number of wickets in the league last year, so I have big boots to fill,” Axtell explained, adding that the upcoming season will be an extra-special one for his new club.
“I’m extremely fortunate to be playing for them as they celebrate the club’s 150th anniversary, which should be exciting,” he said. “I know that they are already planning to make it a special year and I hope to be able to contribute.”
Aside from his playing duties, Axtell will also be coaching the club’s younger players, being a qualified ECB level two coach. “I hope to help their boys and girls reach new levels,” he added.
Axtell is a multi-talented sportsman, having competed in various other disciplines – and taking home many individual awards in the process – including football, golf, field hockey, and gymnastics. But even as a toddler, it was already evident that he was born to be in the oval.
“Apparently, I first walked when I went chasing after a cricket ball rolled at home,” he laughed. “I used to go and watch my dad play at Awali and the Taverners were extremely welcoming and would always let me have a bat or bowl.”
Axtell represented Bahrain internationally at both Under-19 and senior level. “There was relatively limited competitive junior cricket in Bahrain and so, other than social cricket, I mainly played in the UK every summer,” said the former St Christopher’s School student, who moved back to England for further studies at the age of 15.
Axtell believes that his bowling is one of the strongest elements of his game. His fast-medium bowling style led to an astonishing 8.53 average runs conceded per wicket in league cricket for Bath last year, according to statistics made available online by The Cricket Exchange Agency.
“I was always an allrounder, but then the higher up the levels I went, the lower I dropped in the batting order!” he joked. “I’ve generally had a little more pace and control than other juniors, and so the focus became more on my bowling.”
Axtell has won the National ECB Royal London Club 40-over competition and ECB Premier League titles. His ultimate goal is to play as a pro at the highest level of the game, and is determined to realise his dreams. “I’ve always wanted to enjoy a long career as a professional, and have been the type of guy who always wants to work to be the best at what I do,” he said.
With Port Melbourne calling, he is already well on his way. “I’m really excited,” he added. “All the teams will play to a high standard and if I do my job and we are successful as a team, then hopefully it provides another step towards playing full time as a professional.”
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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