It’s time for our next Past Player Profile, featuring former longtime Echidna, James Stratfold. Stratty debuted for Wistow in U13s as a 9 yo way back in 1997/98 before commencing senior cricket in the 2003/04 season. He would remain a regular player for the next fourteen (14) seasons until the end of the 2016/17 season and then play a handful of matches over the following seasons before retiring in 2019.
Playing the bulk of his senior cricket in C Grade, in early seasons Stratty was a medium pacer who generally batted between 6 & 8. Despite that, he won a C Grade Batting trophy in just his 2nd season of seniors at age 16 and had his first taste of captaincy the following season, serving as a then young Dave Kinlough’s even younger deputy.
From there, Stratty developed into a solid middle order batter. His breakout season came at the age of 20 in 2008/09. Starting the season in C’s, he made his 1st century in the 3rd match of the season, 110 featuring 16 fours & 3 sixes. Unsurprisingly, that earnt him a promotion to B’s where he would make 56 the following week, as well as scores of 48, 35 & 43* to finish the season with 338 runs @ 33.80.
The following season he commenced to become a regular opening batter & continued on with 307 runs, including a career high 134 against Echunga featuring 21 fours & a 101 run opening partnership with current A2s opener, Jordan Grooby.
From there, Stratty suffered a bizarre loss of form for several seasons but did captain the Echidnas to the inaugural D Grade Premiership in 2012/13. His form returned by 2014/15, scoring a 3rd and final century in making 105 from 103 balls against Maccy at the Hill before having one of his best seasons the following season as he scored 264 runs @ 26.40 including 53 in the GF to win a 2nd premiership.
All up, Stratty played 175 seniors matches, scoring 2,501 runs @ 17.86 including five (5) seasons with 200 or more runs. He also took 81 wickets including one (1) 5FA & one (1) season of 20 wickets as well as 59 catches.
It was great to see Stratty make a surprise appearance up at the Hill for the recent C Grade GF & there were even rumours of him considering making a comeback which would be more than welcome, especially considering that he is one of only 24 players to have scored three (3) or more centuries for the WCC.
Well done Stratty!
