A decorated figure in the history of the Allansford Cricket Club has broken a long standing absence to pull on the whites again.
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Two-time premiership captain Josh Parkinson has returned for the Gators, having last played a full season in 2011-12.
He was captain-coach of the Gators last premiership team in 2010-11, the last leg of a three-peat.
Parkinson, 35, is into the second game of his comeback and is enjoying being in the thick of the action.
“I missed the competitive stuff and being part of a team sport,” Parkinson on his reasons for returning to the sport.
“I finished playing footy 18 months ago and I have been working on an extension at home so I was looking for something to have a bit of a break away from that.
“I’ve had three hits since Christmas in the nets and now a couple of hits in the middle and I’m feeling comfortable with the bat in hand.
“I need to get my fitness up now, I haven’t sprinted for a while so getting that match fitness is what I need to do.”
On Saturday, Parkinson made 21 from 45 balls batting at number five for the Gators on day one of a home game against Woodford.
Allansford finished the day on 202 in what is a must-win game. The Gators are ninth on the ladder.
“We pretty much need to win everything if we are to make finals,” Parkinson said.
“It seems like a pretty even competition.
“My two games back have been against Russells Creek and Woodford and they are probably the two best teams at the moment when you factor in their finals experience from the last few years.
“We have had some issues with availability but if we can get our best team on the park then we can get on a roll.”
