Dream over before it started for Jordan Margenberg

Jordan Margenberg’s dream of playing cricket in the United Kingdom this season was over before it started. 

With everything aligning back home in Melbourne, Margenberg and his girlfriend decided to head over to England, so Margenberg could achieve his dream of playing cricket overseas.

With flights cancelled and the country's borders closing due to COVID-19, Margenberg had hoped to push back his arrival date.

Then cricket was cancelled for the foreseeable future and with borders remaining shut, Margenberg’s dream has been put on hold for now and possibly forever.

Margenberg said it was a pretty average feeling not to make the trip over, his first opportunity to play overseas.

“We put a lot of things on hold and we organised a lot of things with work and accommodation and everything, including visas,” he said.

 “A lot of things had to line up for it to go ahead, then a month out we basically got told by Flight Centre, you can’t cancel after this coming Saturday… You have to cancel now.

“To get it all taken away is pretty heart wrenching.“

Some luck fell the way of both Margenberg and his partner who were able to keep their jobs, due to some other staff changes. 

Having put on hold the building of his house to make the trip to England, Margenberg said it had been an absolute nightmare to deal with and getting work started again.

Margenberg said he has always wanted to travel to England to play cricket. 

While everything lined up, he said it was the first time that his form had warranted a club taking an opportunity on him.

He plays for Cranbourne in the Dandenong District Cricket Association. He said the decision to move to Cranbourne a couple of seasons back had been a brilliant move for his career.

“It’s always something I wanted to look at , but I didn’t have the stats to back it up or anyone had offered me anything to go over there or help me out.

“I’ve been lucky enough the last couple of years to have had successful seasons and caught the interest of a couple of clubs. 

“Moving over to Cranbourne they put a lot of faith in me, playing on turf wickets and they gave me a shot in the ones.

“I had been playing on synthetic wickets before going to Cranbourne and for me as an off spin bowler, I don’t think it really helped me too much.

“I’ve cemented my spot and played some good cricket. It’s been a positive experience for my cricket and off field.”

Margenberg was due to link up with Burnham-On-Sea near Bristol. He said the club had been very accommodating for both him and his partner, sorting out work and accommodation.

They have already said if Margenberg was to want to play in England again, they would keep him in mind to play for them.

While many cricketers are looking to make the trip in 12 months time, Margenberg said for him that wouldn’t be possible.

It remains a goal in the future, but he knows that his dream of playing in England may not come true.

“It was basically the house first and if I could get the house and then look at England. If I could do both I would, so it took a bit to get both lined up

“It puts us back and I won’t be able to go next year. Being a first home buyer, I’ve got obligations to meet the first home owners grant. So I can’t move out of my house or rent it next year.

“Maybe the year after, but we’re not sure if it's an opportunity any more. I’m not sure if my partner will get the visa again. 

“She was coming over on a visa and I was going over on a dual passport.

“I don’t know what that means for her visa if we want to go next year. "