Alex Roberts pads up for Berwick after a controversial off-season saw him almost join Buckley Ridges. 23330 Picture: Luke Plummer.
By Stuart Teather
ENGLISHMAN Alex Roberts finally took to the field with Berwick on Saturday, amid an ongoing storm of controversy surrounding his recruitment in the off-season.
Roberts lined up against Buckley Ridges, the side he apparently joined in the off-season, but then left after a change of mind.
Having declared his interest in moving clubs in the off-season, Buckley Ridges pounced and president Kieran Watson announced they had agreed for Roberts to play with them in 2008/09.
But Roberts had a last minute change of heart, and according to new Berwick coach Will Carr, asked his old side to take him back.
“He was going to come to us, then he was going to go to Buckley, then he decided he really wanted to play with Berwick, and he approached Berwick and said he really wanted to play with Berwick,” he said.
While emphasising he was not a part of the negotiations, Carr said Berwick had not financially matched Buckley Ridges’ offer.
“From what I understand he is getting a lot less money than what he was offered from Buckley Ridges,” Carr said.
But Chris Rattle, vice-president at Buckley Ridges, said Berwick had offered more money to bring Roberts back.
“It’s a load of crap — he agreed to come and play for us, it was all done and sorted, yeah he was coming, and then he contacted me and said he received a better offer from Berwick and asked if we could match it, and we basically said no,” he said. “He agreed to come, it was all done… I’d sent him a contract, he’d agreed verbally.”
After two scintillating seasons in the DDCA it was little surprise that Roberts was hot property in the off-season, after the all-rounder hit 713 runs with an average of 79.2, and took 23 wickets at 12.8 in 2007/08.
He hit two centuries and a further four half-centuries, and twice took six wickets in a match.
On Saturday, Roberts batted at number three and made 29 runs, before he was caught behind off Ben Watson’s bowling. The match will resume this weekend with Berwick on 9/228.
