Over the winter months, Formby Cricket Club’s own Lucas has been plying his trade on the other side of the world, spending the season in Melbourne with the Beaumaris Sharks. It’s been a productive spell for the all-rounder, highlighted by a superb 5/28 with the ball and more than 500 runs with the bat.

With the English season on the horizon, we caught up with Lucas to talk about life in Australia, what he’s learned from playing on different conditions, and what he’s most looking forward to when he returns to Cricket Path.

Lucas, you’ve had a brilliant season with the Beaumaris Sharks, including that incredible 5/28 with the ball and passing the 500-run mark. How has the hard, bouncy Australian wicket changed your approach to both your batting and your bowling compared to the tracks back home in the Liverpool Competition?

“I came over expecting that type of a surface but they have actually been slower and a bit lower than what I expected. I think the approach to bowling would be generally the same but with batting I think that boundaries come less frequently so manipulation of strike is needed.”

Moving to Melbourne is a big step for any young cricketer. Beyond the cricket itself, what has been the most memorable part of the ‘Sharks’ culture, and is there anything from the Aussie club scene that you think would be a great addition to the atmosphere at Formby?

“Even though the results haven’t gone the way we had hoped, there has always been a strong sense of mateship and togetherness no matter the result which is a great thing to have at a club.”

After a full summer of cricket in the Southern Hemisphere, you’ll be heading back to the UK with a lot of momentum. What are you missing most about Saturday afternoons at Cricket Path, and how eager are you to get back into the whites for Formby?

“I think when you’ve been away, you appreciate it even more. I’m really looking forward to walking back into that changing room with the group of lads that we have. I’m hoping to bring back what I’ve learned and look to contribute straight away.”

Formby has a reputation for developing top-tier talent. After a high-performance winter abroad, what are your personal goals for the 2026 season? Are there specific milestones you’ve set your sights on?

“Formby has always been a club that pushes players to improve so I’d love to push past previous personal bests with both runs and wickets but more importantly, I want to see us once again compete for more silverware than we did last year.”

As someone who has successfully made the transition from Formby’s junior ranks to playing overseas, what advice would you give to the current U15s and U18s who are looking to follow in your footsteps and take their game to the next level?

“There is always going to be tough days in cricket. I feel that you have to always look for positives as the good days will come. Also, constantly ask senior and more experienced players questions as it is great for development.”

Lucas’ winter in Australia has clearly been a valuable experience, both on and off the field. With runs, wickets, and new lessons under his belt, everyone at Formby will be excited to see what he brings back to Cricket Path when the 2026 season gets underway.