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The pride of North Dandy By Nick Creely The 17-year-old North Dandenong Cricket Club youngster - known as Kumar Siva - made his first XI debut in the Maroons' Turf 1 clash against Narre South on Saturday, but it was no ordinary entrance into the top flight of the DDCA. Kumar came to Australia as a refugee from Sri Lanka at just 10 with his brother, but without their parents there beside them, and has since used his love of the game and positivity to forge a life for himself in the south-eastern suburbs. The youngster told the Journal that while it initially took time to acclimatise to life in Australia, he couldn't be happier settling in Endeavour Hills. "We were really young, but my parents wanted us to have a better future," he said of moving across from Sri Lanka. "I was at Christmas Island for a month or so, and then moved to Tasmania, and from there, we came to Melbourne. "It was pretty tough for the first year to be honest, but then once I got used to it, everything became normal to me. I just love the place, the people." He said the experience of leaving his parents has forced him to grow up quickly, and basically learn to become independent in his new Endeavour Hills home. "We have guardians and carers to look after us, so it's like a detention centre house but with more freedom, we go out and stuff. They come and go every now and then," he said. "I had to learn things by myself without my parents and all and with my brother, so I had to learn new things and grow up." Only a year after arriving in the country, Kumar made his way to the North Dandenong Cricket Club, a place he now calls home. As a shy kid, one thing never left Kumar as he learnt the game as a junior, made new friends and left an impression on his club that smile, one thing that has been admired by others as they watched his progression. He has since played 79 games of junior and senior cricket, including taking 4/4 in an under-15 match in 2016 - but his 80th match for the Maroons, which started on Saturday against the Lions, saw the once shy young man receive cap number 174 as the latest cricketer to play first XI cricket for the club. In that under-15 season, the youngster snared 16 wickets at an average of just 9.75, showcasing his bright future. But through every challenge, Kumar has risen, and his latest - against a Narre South first XI side full of some of the finest players in the association - is sure to be one he'll never forget. "Yeah I'm pretty proud, really excited," he
Kumar Siva made his first XI debut for North Dandenong on Saturday. 200566 said prior to his debut on Saturday. "It's a big club, and I've been playing there for quite a while, and playing in the first XI is pretty big to me, personally. "I do worry about my performances but at the same time I just want to enjoy the game I'm just looking forward to enjoying the game and seeing where it takes me. "I don't give up, I just keep going and going." He said the importance of cricket in his life and family is something that he will always treasure. "Cricket has always been such a big part of my family, my brothers always played together - it's the main thing that keeps us happy. It just makes us all so happy," he said. And with an incredibly bright future in
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
cricket, the talented young man said that the North Dandenong Cricket Club has taught him so much, not only in cricket, but in life. "I've been there for quite a while, and many people told me many things at the start, especially my under-13 coach Nas (Nasrat Malikzada), and he has taught me a lot, same with Stef (De Silva) and Declan (Fowler) - it means a lot to me," he said. "It's a big thing, I've never played that grade (Turf 1) in my life, it means a lot to me - I want to thank the club, Stef and everyone that's supported me along the way." Kumar (right), pictured with Riley Shaw during his first season at the North Dandenong Cricket Club. Picture: SUPPLIED
Vintage Scotch stars in a brilliant Shootout performance By Mick Floyd It took until the final stride, but 'Hooked On Scotch' landed the $25,000 prize in a classic edition of the Shootout at Sandown Park on Thursday night. 'Whiskey Riot' was widely-touted to lead the four-dog event and he did just that after beginning brilliantly from Box 1. Hooked On Scotch settled in second place and loomed ominously down the back straight before unleashing the kind of powerful finish for which he has become famous - nabbing his rival in the final strides to record a memorable victory in a slick 29.162. "For a young dog, it was a real professional win," said his delighted trainer Jason Thompson. "It's very hard to win these races when you're not leading. When you're chasing quality dogs like Whiskey Riot that can run 29.20 every time he goes around here, he makes you work the whole way." A veteran of just 14 starts, Hooked On Scotch has now won four Group races, having previously annexed the Group 3 Speed Star, Group 1 Adelaide Cup, and Group 2 Geelong Cup, and has amassed over $168,000 in 26 STAR JOURNAL
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Hooked On Scotch stormed to victory in the Shootout late last week. Picture: COURTESY OF SANDOWN GREYHOUNDS prize money. He'll enter Friday night's TAB Melbourne Cup heats among the favourites to claim the world's greatest greyhound race,
Tuesday, 19 November, 2019
and Thompson was bullish about his chances against the best chasers in the country. "The pleasing thing tonight was that even
though he didn't ping out of the boxes, it was good to see him drive through. He had to assert himself through the first corner and it was really pleasing to see him do that because when he was younger and more inexperienced he was probably a bit intimidated at times by other dogs." Hooked On Scotch is the fourth Shootout winner to be prepared out of the Thompsons' Awesome Lodge property, with Jason having previously prepared 'Whisky Assassin' (2004) and 'Priven Nitro' (2012) to Shootout success, while his wife Seona also won the race with 'Aston Dee Bee' (2018). The final round of TAB Melbourne Cup Preludes were also run with 'Flynn', 'Blue Striker', 'Reiko Boss', 'Busy Bella' and 'Weblec Ace' all winning and guaranteeing their places in the Cup heats, while 'Shima Shine' and 'Who Told Stevie' will join Hooked On Scotch as series favourites after claiming their second Prelude victories. The TAB Melbourne Cup heats will be run this Friday (22 November) with the $630,000 Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup to be run on Friday, 29 November. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au