JAKE Foley believes playing cricket in Australia will be of huge benefit to his Colchester and East Essex team-mate Ollie Bocking.

Seamer Bocking will play for Port Melbourne Cricket Club over the winter months, following in the footsteps of Foley who turned out for Perth-based Pinjarra Cricket club earlier this year.

Bocking, who returns to the Colchester squad for their trip to play Gidea Park and Romford tomorrow, will link up with his new team-mates in Australia in September and skipper Foley believes it will be a fruitful experience for the 22-year-old.

Foley said: “I would thoroughly recommend playing in Australia.

“It’s a great opportunity for him and I’m sure Ollie will go out there and do very well and come back an even better player.

“It’s been very good to have him back playing for us, this season.”

Colchester will be looking to consolidate their top-two place in Shepherd Neame Essex League First XI Division One when they take on Gidea Park and Romford.

They head into the game on the back of an impressive victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Harold Wood, last weekend.

Julian Russell is set for another outing at the top of the Colchester batting order but bowler Ben Stephens is unavailable.

“Jules did well and it’s always good to have him back in the team,” said Foley.

“It’s another away game for us and I’ve not played at Gidea Park too much in the past.

“We need to show the same level of performance and spirit tomorrow as we did against Harold Wood, if we want to win the game.”

Like numerous other Shepherd Neame Essex League clubs this weekend, Colchester will be in action at the same time as England’s World Cup quarter-final against Sweden tomorrow afternoon.

However, Foley insists that will not be a distraction for their players.

He added: “I don’t think we’ll have the pleasure of watching the England game.

“I’m sure the lads will be interested in what’s happening in Russia but our main focus is on the cricket and not the football.”