Perseverance has finally paid off for Suffolk all-rounder Kyran Young, writes Nick Garnham
The Australian, who holds a British passport, has had to wait seven years since first arriving in this country to finally qualify for Suffolk.
He first thought he was going to be eligible to play in 2014, but changes to the ruling on residency meant he has had to wait until this season.
The 29-year-old, who was born in Subiaco, a suburb of Perth in Western Australia, came to England in 2010 to play club cricket for Mistley.
He spent two years as the club’s overseas player and a further three as skipper of the Essex club in Division One of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship.
Young, whose mother was born in Sussex, said: “I had a great time at Mistley. They are a great bunch of people and I made some fantastic friends.
“Stuart Dove, who plays for Mistley, was best man at my wedding and I would go back there and play again, but they were not keen on stepping up to play in the East Anglian Premier League.
“They were happy being a successful village cricket club, but I wanted to test myself and had the chance to play for Frinton so decided to take it.”
He was a member of the Frinton side that finished runners-up in their first season in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League under Mark Jones, who retired at the end of that 2015 season.
Young then took over the captaincy last season and is enjoying the challenge.
“I was happy to stick my hand up and take on the captaincy, and we are trying to take the club in a slightly different direction.”
The hard-hitting batsman and fast bowler had caught the eye of the Suffolk selectors while he was at Mistley, but he has had to remain patient until this season.
He explained: “Playing for Suffolk was something I had always been interested in doing since coming to England, and I was told in 2010 I had to play for four years to qualify.
“Then in 2012 that was changed to six years and in 2015 it changed again to seven years, so this year was my third attempt!
“I understand that the authorities need to protect the English-born players, and although it was frustrating to have to wait to qualify, I enjoyed the training sessions and the level of cricket which benefited me as a player as well.”
Young played in five of Suffolk’s six Unicorns Championship three-day fixtures this season – he was unable to get time off work for the match at Northumberland.
He was also involved in the Unicorns Trophy quarter-final loss to Berkshire and the Unicorns East T20 Tournament at Bury St Edmunds.
Young, who lives in Colchester and works in freight forwarding, said: “They are a great bunch of guys who have made me very welcome since coming into the side. What I like about the squad is that there are not any egos and everyone respects you.
“It is a relaxed set-up and there is not the pressure that I thought there would be, so as a new player it is a nice position to be in and you can go out and play how you do for your club which is what got you into the team.
“Coach Andy Northcote sets high standards, but he is a very fair coach who believes players perform their best when they are relaxed which I think is the right way.
“I have enjoyed this season more than any other I have played, but I know I can’t take my position in the team for granted and am determined to make the most of it.
“I know I have got more to give and can improve – I would really like to make a big score and help the team by taking a few more wickets.”
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