BDCA 2023: Colts Cricket Club legend Murray Goodwin excited about son Ashton’s senior cricket future

Colts Cricket Club legend Murray Goodwin had a front-row seat to a special family moment on Saturday afternoon in Burekup. Goodwin, 50, was able to bat alongside his teenage son Ashton, 17, during Colts’ second grade clash against the Bees. The duo put on a staggering second-wicket partnership worth 349 runs, with Ashton (135 off 154 balls) notching up his maiden century in BDCA senior cricket. “It was wonderful to be a part of his first senior hundred,” Goodwin said. “Hopefully (I was) able to guide him in certain ways — but just to see him enjoying it out there, was really good fun. “It was really hot, so it was a challenge and it was just nice to be a part of that sort of family moment I suppose.” It was also a significant afternoon for Goodwin (234 off 122 balls), who played his first game since returning from a suspension incurred during last year’s first grade grand final against Marist. Initially, the former Zimbabwe Test star received a 16-game ban — with the remainder suspended — after being found guilty of committing a Level 4 offence under MCC Law 42.5 on day one of the decider. Following a secondary protest and disputes board process, this was reduced to six matches, with the remainder of the three-year sentence suspended. The 50-year-old outlined his reasons behind padding up in Saturday’s second grade clash against the Bees. “There were three reasons why I ended up playing B-grade,” he said. “The first reason was, yes, I wanted to play cricket with my son. The second reason was, I’ve been out of the team and club for quite a while now. “The A-grade team is winning games, so it is the right thing to go back to b-Grade, make some runs and force your way in. “And the third thing was, I actually was asked to be a batting consultant for Pakistan, during their upcoming tour of Australia. So I was going to be away from cricket until about January 8. “And I was thinking this would be the only weekend I could possibly play with Ashton.” Instead of taking up the consultant role, the proud father said he was more than happy to see his youngest son develop at senior level. “I think he (Ashton) does have a good game plan regarding cricket,” Goodwin said. “He’s still on the smaller side, so the strength isn’t quite there, but the way he goes about his cricket is pretty good. “He thinks about it quite nicely, especially his batting and bowling. “He’s a good kid, works pretty hard and he’s always trying to do the right thing by the team.”