WISBECH Cricket Club s Gary Freear is off to Australia for six months where he will be paid to play for a side near Melbourne. He will be paid $3, equivalent to about �1.50, per run and $18, equivalent to �9, per wicket playing for Narre Warren Cricket Cl

WISBECH Cricket Club's Gary Freear is off to Australia for six months where he will be paid to play for a side near Melbourne.

He will be paid $3, equivalent to about �1.50, per run and $18, equivalent to �9, per wicket playing for Narre Warren Cricket Club in the Dandenong District Cricket Association League.

This is two divisions off the top level of Australian club cricket.

Freear, 27, said: "I've always wanted to play in Australia. If I was going to be a full-time professional cricketer I would have made it by now, so this trip is for the experience rather than career advancement.

"I know one of the Narre Warren players, Danny Law, through playing county cricket for Cambridgeshire and got into it through him. Wisbech player James Williams played in Australia recently and said it was an amazing experience and I just thought you have to take these opportunities when they come along."

Freear has resigned as Wisbech first team captain after inspiring is side to a massive 134-run win over local rivals March in the final Tucker League match of the season.

He flies to Australia on Tuesday but plans to continue playing for Wisbech and to be back before the start of the new season.

He said: "I've captained Wisbech for seven years now and I know a couple of other guys are keen to do it so I thought I'd take a step back and give them their chance.