From Maple country to Ky country

You can check with Kyabram Fire Brigade Cricket Club president Justin Hooper, who started talking to the agent of Canadian Nick Manohar in March.

It took four months before the club announced his signing, and Hooper still won’t see Manohar in the flesh for another three weeks.

“We were probably one of the first clubs in the area to get overseas cricketers,” the president said.

“You used to just follow stats and then ring up the cricketer, but now he goes through an agent.”

Hooper said more agents from the UK had begun to put their players in Australia’s shop window.

But often the city clubs are targeted first, leaving those in the country playing second fiddle.

“They don't understand what they're missing out on by not coming to us,” Hooper said.

“You can have the beaches, nightlife and everything in Melbourne, but you don't get the family orientated and community club that you get in the country areas.”

But Kyabram found an exception to the rule when Hooper came across an email months ago.

“This year we were contacted by an agent from Canada who's had players over here before,” he said.

“But it wasn't a well-known agent, it was just a young fella that wanted the best for up-and-coming cricketers in Canada to reach their potential.

“When I received that email out of the blue, I thought I’d just look into it a bit further than what we have in the past because it's so difficult to get these players."

Hooper’s follow-up began a process akin to a Mexican stand-off.

“You’re doing that due diligence, homework,” he said.

“You're having interviews with them.

“They're sounding you out, you're sounding them out, and you're talking for months.

“On Teams, WhatsApp, making sure they're the right person that you want at your club.”

The coaching line of prioritising for the human being over the player is probably overused in recruitment.

But for this signing, which Hooper labelled “a coup”, it was particularly important.

Manohar will assist in the junior program, coaching an under-13 and under-17 team.

Along with his cricket duties, the club arranged for the Canadian to work with a local businessman to install air-conditioners, while he’ll be living with one of his new teammates.

The long journey to see Manohar out on the field is almost complete.

A left-handed batter and wicketkeeper, Hooper said we should expect to see “a good player of spin”.

The president now just needs to pick up his recruit when he lands in Australia on October 17.

It’s unlikely Manohar will play on the day, which sees Kyabram open its campaign at Tongala, a week after serving a round one bye.

But after that, it will be time to see what the former Canada under-19 international can do.