Saturday 16th October 2010 saw one of the great first grade debuts in the long history of Stockton & Northern Districts Cricket Club and it was a debut that nearly didn't happen.
The debutant was Benn West and his teammates didn’t know what was happening when the former Randwick-Petersham bowler rushed to his car and left the ground before the start of play against Merewether on Saturday.
It was West’s first appearance for the club.
Captain Terry Crittenden explained that West had snapped a knee brace and had to buy another one.
He returned 40 minutes later and took a match-turning 7-52 from 16 overs, including the big scalps of Simon Moore (47) and Troy Goodwin (11).
Not a bad effort for a man with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The injury forced the 33-year-old to sit out last season, but, with the aid of the brace, he is now able to bowl.
‘‘The brace really helps,’’ said West, who works as an exercise physiologist.
‘‘Some people function fine without an ACL, depending on the hamstring strength they have.
‘‘I spent a year or more strengthening my hamstring, my quadriceps and all the muscles surrounding the knee. At some stage I will get a reconstruction but not this year.’’
West played four seasons in Sydney, working his way up from fifth grade, and has taken up a role as bowling coach at Stockton, mainly working with the young quicks.
‘‘Coaching is something I enjoy,’’ he said.
‘‘Through my background in exercise physiology I can help with strength training, conditioning
and core strength which is exactly what you need to do as a bowler in preparation for a game.
‘‘After missing last season it is just good to be back involved.’’