For Martin Henderson and Brodie Dwyer, forming a social cricket team within the Last Man Stands [LMS] Ipswich competition was for a bit of fun and fitness.
Nine years later, the Ipswich duo are now training for the biggest challenge of their cricketing careers when they play in the Australian team at the LMS World Series in Chester, England this August.
LMS is a form of Twenty20 cricket with a twist; with eight to a side, if a team loses seven wickets in an innings the remaining batsman continues to bat without a partner. The competition is global, with over 200,000 players worldwide.
Both Henderson and Dwyer were chosen for the Australian team after their stellar performances during the LMS Australian National Titles in 2017, with Henderson selected as the best all rounder and Dwyer as the best batsmen in the squad.
While it’s not the first time the men have competed internationally in the LMS, the selection was still a pleasant surprise to each player.
“Being picked together is pretty special considering Marty and I were two of the first guys to play in the Ipswich competition and we’ve had a lot of hard years of playing and keeping a team together,” Dwyer said.
“There were three spots on offer for the Australian side during the National Titles and we nabbed two of them, and it wasn’t a shoo-in.
“There were plenty of fantastic players in the competition, but I think I played the best I ever had at the National Titles to nab my spot, whereas Marty is consistently playing at a top standard.”
Playing with ‘The 2nd XI’ Ipswich team at Lord’s Cricket Ground in 2013 and Western Province Cricket Club in Johannesburg were highlights of the men’s careers, but Henderson says the pressure is amplified knowing that former Australian test cricketer Marcus North is both a player and coach for the Australian side.
“The fact that we’re now playing with test cricketers is crazy… every country competing has a famous test cricketer playing for them like Herschelle Gibbs [South Africa] and Ajantha Mendis [Sri Lanka],” Henderson said.
“We’ve come from playing on school ovals like Blair State School’s, we’ve played at Lords, then to Cape Town and now we’re playing with test stars for our country.”
The pair haven’t forgotten their humble beginning with “The 2nd XI” – their Ipswich team. In fact, both men say it’s the mateship rather than the competitiveness that keeps them returning to the game each year.
Henderson encourages keen Ipswich cricketers to check out www.lastmanstands.com to find out more about joining a team.
“Give it a crack, it’s so much fun,” he said. “For two hours, you bat, bowl, field and away you go.
“There’s a level of seriousness for everyone, while we’re playing at a more competitive level but there’s lower grades where you’re just having fun as well and that’s the best part of it. Ipswich LMS competition is like a community that keeps me coming back.”
In the lead up to their departure, Henderson and Dwyer are calling upon the community for a potential jersey sponsor.
“While subsidised, there are still costs involved travelling overseas to play sport and anyone who wishes to sponsor us individually or both should message @the2ndxi on Facebook,” Dwyer said.