IT IS probably fair to say that Karl Carver will remember playing at the famous and vast Melbourne Cricket Ground for as long as he lives.

The Yorkshire and Sheriff Hutton Bridge spinner - a product of Sessay Cricket Club - is spending his winter playing grade cricket in Australia, and on Sunday helped Dandenong become T20 Victorian state champions at one of the world’s best venues by beating Carlton.

And left-armer Carver definitely played his part.

Having already claimed a wicket, he bowled the penultimate over with their opponents needing 19 runs to win with four wickets left, chasing 123. He conceded only four.

The Sunday previous, in the semi-final at the Junction Oval just down the road, Carver defended only four off the last over as chasers St Kilda had two wickets in hand, finishing with 2-20 from his four overs.

“I’ve been pretty lucky to play at some special venues, and it was an unbelievable experience,” the 22-year-old said of his MCG appearance.

“It was the curtain raiser to a Big Bash game, and it ended up being a tight-ish finish.

“With it being a T20 game, it went by so fast and was hard to take in. But I made sure I took a moment or two throughout the day to enjoy it.

“I was fielding square of the wicket, and you had to stand 40 or 50 metres in. I felt lost because it was that big!”

Dandenong, or the Panthers to the locals, have now qualified for the national finals in Adelaide in early March, something Carver is unsure he will be available for.

“I’m due to come home on February 26,” he said.

“I haven’t even spoken to Yorkshire about that. I will have a chat with Galey (head coach Andrew Gale) about it over the next few days potentially because it might be another good development thing for me.

“If it happens, it happens. If not, I’ll be back into pre-season. I’m excited for both either way.”

Carver has been playing for Dandenong as one of two overseas players alongside ex-Sri Lanka international Suraj Randiv.

But he has been playing his regular grade cricket for Moorabbin, a club a touch further down the pecking order in Victorian grade cricket.

“I’ve been playing for them on a Saturday and for Dandenong in the T20s during the week and at weekends,” he continued.

“Brendan McArdle (a former Victoria state player and now an agent) was the bloke who helped get me across here, and I was speaking to him about playing some T20 cricket.

“Dandenong is his club, and their overseas player didn’t manage to get across here, so he said, ‘Come and play for us’.

“To be honest, from then, I haven’t really looked back. I’m very pleased with how it’s gone.

“I’ve been out here since October, and it’s been even better than I thought.

“On a Saturday, it’s been a bit up and down.

“Throughout the winter, I’ve gone alright without getting the wickets I’d have liked. However, that’s just started to turn. I think that was just down to bowling on different pitches.

“It has been challenging because most of the surfaces have been flat.

“We’ve played more one-day cricket than two-day cricket.

“But I’ve had to learn to bowl a different way, and if we get a flat pitch in England this experience will help me adapt.

“It’s helped me become more patient and work out a batsman and go from there.

“On the flipside, I’ve had so much opportunity with the bat, and I couldn’t have imagined it going much better than it has batting-wise (409 runs from 11 matches for Moorabbin). I’ve surprised myself a bit.”

Dandenong got off to a slow start in the T20s before building momentum during the second half of a competition which saw Carver claim nine wickets from six appearances.

Away from cricket, Carver has enjoyed himself while still working hard on his fitness in preparation for 2019 with the White Rose.

“My fitness is something I always stay on top of,” he added.

"It’s something I enjoy doing and have an interest in away from the game. It’s allowed me to refresh.

“I’ve also been able to get out and about.

“I have some family on the Gold Coast, so I managed to see them over the New Year. Also, just travelling around Victoria has been brilliant.

“I’ve been able to get in and out of Melbourne pretty easily.

“I went to the tennis the other week, the Australian Open, which was fantastic. We were at Andy Murray’s game. Even though he lost, it was a hell of a spectacle. The atmosphere was unbelievable.”