400 up for Hocking

Wayne Hocking is presented with a framed caricature of himself last week to celebrate his 400-game milestone. Picture: SUPPLIED.

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Beaconsfield life member Wayne Hocking brought up game 400 in the Tigers’ Third XI loss to Buckley Ridges on Saturday.

Hocking batted at eight and was run-out for five as Beaconsfield fell 41-runs short of top-placed Buckley Ridges.

Hocking has been at the club for 36 seasons, boasting four premierships, three centuries and 289 wickets including seven five-wicket hauls.

The all-rounder, whose medium-pace swingers were a constant threat at his prime, has turned his hand to wicket-keeping in recent years, standing behind the stumps on the weekend to take a catch and execute a stumping, building his number of dismissals to 134.

A gap-finder who turns the strike over and gets expansive square of the wicket, the former grade captain has 4636 runs to his name.

There was a presentation for Hocking, known for his passion for the club and dry sense of humour, last Thursday.

Across his career Hocking has had the opportunity to play cricket with both his son, Jarrod and daughter, Amy.

The inaugural hall-of-famer brings up the milestone just weeks after Tiger great Don Kerslake reached the same mark.