Plumtree so happy to keep their Coull

By dparkinson james pallatt

DALLAS Coull should not be in Plumtree this summer.

The 41-year-old was set to leave the Notts Premier League side last winter to return to Australia and Adelaide with his family.

In fact, the village club even held a farewell party for their leading batsman of last season, their first in the Notts Premier League after promotion from the South Notts League.

But there was a change of plan and he stayed in the end. How thankful Plumtree are.

After a slow start with the bat in the opening matches of the summer, he finally went past a half-century against Welbeck, hitting 61 in their four wicket defeat.

His impressive innings came off 128 balls and included seven boundaries and one memorable six that came in the 35th over off Martin Dobson.

He powered a shot back over Dobson to bring up 49 and then swept past 50 with a ground-stroke that almost went for four.

It is the first time this summer Coull has posted more than 50 runs.

It was also a first with the ball for him as Welbeck replied after tea.

He took the vital wicket of opener Martin Dobson, cheaply too, for just 20. It came in his first over, a maiden.

It was a magnificent caught and bowled as he reacted rapidly to hold onto a powerful strike from Dobson.

With Welbeck's big scorer removed Plumtree scented their second win of the summer but a quick-fire 47 from Vikram Atri off 64 balls put the visitors in a winning position.

He was eventually lbw to Nigel Finney.

Matthew Higgins, who hit his 50 off 88 balls, also played a telling innings in the visitors' victory.

The defeat leaves Plumtree just two points above newcomers Farnsfield in the Premier League table, ahead of today's trip to Cuckney.

After finishing eighth last summer, Coull said the club's aim is survival again this year. They want to stay among the big boys but can't compete financially with the likes of Papplewick and West Indian Cavaliers, who are once again the front-runners in the Premier League, along with Clifton and Wollaton.

He holds a dual passport so is not classed as an overseas player.

He said: "It was pleasing to get a few runs but we needed more, we needed to bowl very well to win.

"I'm lucky to be playing at all because I was planning to move back to Australia last year.

"I've been in Nottingham for five years and married a Nottingham girl. The club gave us a great send-off, but we came back!

"It is a great club to play for, it's a lovely family club. It's one of the biggest things I will miss when we do move to Australia.

"It's not about trying to win the league for us, it's about trying to stay in it, that's our aim.

"We did it last year in our first season in the Premier League and we hope to do it again.

"It's difficult for us to compete with the top teams, the league is tiered by money.

"If we can finish in lower mid-table again this summer everyone will be really, really happy with that."

Coull believes Plumtree would be stronger with fellow Australian Jake Haberfield, who the club tried to get as their professional this summer.

He was denied a visa because he only played three first-class games for South Australia and not the requisite five.

Plumtree have instead got Notts pair Jason Brown and Matt Wood as their two paid players for this summer – and the pair both played for the first time together against Welbeck.

Brown was allowed to play after the Outlaws Friends Provident Trophy clash against Gloucestershire was rearranged, although he only faced one ball from Guy Darwin as the Welbeck bowler captured four tail wickets in the 48th over.

He took a hat-trick, of Michael Tew, Brown and Scott Bailey.

Coull added: "I don't understand it, he (Haberfield) would have been nothing but good for this club, not only playing for the first team but he was going to train the kids twice a week too.

"He could play for Australia one day! We wanted him and he wanted to come but he wasn't allowed into the country – it's a massive shame."

Plumtree have to try to survive without him. But they have Coull for one final summer, definitely.