By Nick Creely
Community sport has been left out in the wilderness for another winter, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel with the cricket kits set to be dusted off for another season. In the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s highly regarded Turf 1 competition, it’s set to be another bumper season after a huge off-season of recruiting. This week we take a look at how Narre South, Narre Warren, North Dandenong and St Mary’s are placed, with the remainder of clubs set to go under the microscope next week with the season to begin on Saturday 13 November…
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NARRE SOUTH
Nickname: Lions
President: Nathan Tracy
Coach: Matt Brooks
Captain: Kyle Hardy
Last Season: Fifth
Most Runs: Kaushalya Weeraratne (329 runs at 41.13); Kyle Hardy (276 runs at 55.20)
Most Wickets: Josh Dowling (31 wickets at 12.68); Morteza Ali (18 wickets at 12.78)
In: Harsha De Silva (West Coburg)
Out: Josh Dowling (Springvale South), Scott Phillips (Williamstown Imperials)
Home Base: Strathaird Reserve, Narre Warren South
Turf 1 premierships: 5
Most recent premiership: 1979/80
First match: vs Hallam Kalora Park, Strathaird Reserve
More: It was only a matter of percentage that prevented the Lions from their second straight Turf 1 finals appearance with the club now well and truly entrenched in the DDCA’s top-flight, and with a thriving junior program are continuing to build a strong base into the future. Little moments in the end proved the catalyst for just missing out, and with another one-day season ahead will be hoping to learn from their mistakes. It won’t be easy with the association’s leading paceman last season, Josh Dowling off to Springvale South. It’s a big loss and one hard to replace. The legendary Scott Phillips’ memorable stint with the club has come to a close with the great all-rounder moving clubs to be closer to home. But just as champions do, he’s left the club in a better place than when he arrived, having scored 2403 runs at 47.12 and 158 wickets at 12.61 in his 66 matches. His century and six-wicket-haul in the Turf 2 grand final will go down in folklore. The Lions have added attacking opener Harsha De Silva from West Coburg and expect him to settle in nicely at the top, while will be hoping 2019/20 Wookey winner Morteza Ali, champion all-rounder Kaushalya Weeraratne, skipper and gun batter Kyle Hardy can carry the bulk of responsibility, with the likes of Jawed Hussaini, Tim Phillips and Kirk Dickson continuing to contribute strongly. A stern test against reigning premiers Hallam Kalora Park in the opening round will be fascinating viewing.
NARRE WARREN
Nickname: Magpies
President: Ricky Jones
Coach: Brett Lewis and Tony Young
Captain: Cameron Dinger
Last Season: Turf 2 premiers
Most Runs: Zach Allen (387 runs at 29.77); Ben Swift (282 runs at 23.50)
Most Wickets: Josh Dinger (33 wickets at 9.79); Cameron Dinger (23 wickets at 9)
In: Nil
Out: Nil
Home Base: Sweeney Recreation Reserve, Narre Warren
Turf 1 premierships: 0
Most recent premiership: 2020/21 Turf 2 premiership
First match: vs Berwick, Arch Brown Reserve
More: The Maggies return to Turf 1 with unwavering momentum after a superb Turf 2 premiership that saw them play some largely electrifying cricket and really kick into gear at the pointy end of the season. With the season to once again be played in a one-day format, the club knows that it suits the white ball game, has some destructive hitters and leaders who know what’s required to succeed in the shorter game. Cam Dinger will skipper the Magpies this season, with the leggie a quality cricketer who keeps getting better, while the likes of Zach Allen, zippy paceman Josh Dinger and Ben Swift are also vital players as the club looks to mix it with the DDCA’s best and most powerful clubs once again. Dinger’s pace and x-factor are a crucial factor in the side, with the club confident he can take another huge leap after 33 wickets last season, including six in the grand final. While the Magpies could have looked outside to add to the list, Brett Lewis’ group has immense confidence that it doesn’t want to unsettle the premiership team, believing they’re well and truly on track for a competitive season in Turf 1 cricket if they stick to the same process that saw them achieve glory last season. The group is young, full of talent and will back themselves in. It’s hard to know whether they will push for finals, but they’re a dangerous group capable of anything. And what better way to test themselves back in the top-flight than a trip to Arch Brown Reserve to take on the mighty Berwick.
NORTH DANDENONG
Nickname: Maroons
President: Jason Shaw
Captain: Clayton McCartney
Coach: Leroy de Alwis
Last Season: Seventh
Most Runs: Clay McCartney (377 runs at 41.89); Imran Laghmani (250 runs at 41.67)
Most Wickets: Nimesh Kariyawasam (22 wickets at 19); Imran Laghmani (12 wickets at 15.08)
In: Sanjaya Rodrigo (Overseas), Austin Heldt (Endeavour Hills), Sohail Saqiq (Endeavour Hills), Patrick Bond (Monash University), Declan Fowler (returning)
Out: Nimesh Kariyawasam (Buckley Ridges), Nanayakkarawasam Kalumshehara (St Mary’s), Buddhika Janith (Taylors Lakes), Rahi Arn Cox (WA)
Home Base: Lois Twohig Reserve, Dandenong North
Turf 1 premierships: 2
Most recent premiership: 1997/98
First match: vs St Mary’s, Lois Twohig Reserve
More: The Maroons showed some promising signs late last season, and will be desperate to continue on with the late season momentum and become a genuine finals smoky. There’s been some movement, with the club losing a trio of bona-fide first XI players in Nimesh Kariyawasam, Raveen Nanayakkara and Buddhika Janith, but have recruited brilliantly with the experienced Sanjaya Rodrigo, an ex-First Class batter who has played a stack of cricket in the UK signing on in a playing-coaching capacity to help bolster the squad on and off the field, ex-Premier Cricket opener Austin Heldt returning from Endeavour Hills to give some class up the top, while Sohail Sadiq comes with him and Declan Fowler has returned. It provides a strong mix with the likes of gun skipper Clay McCartney, star all-rounder Javed Khan and Imran Laghmani all set to go around again. Khan in particular looms as a real x-factor for the Maroons if they’re to climb up the table. There’s plenty of reasons to be bullish about the Maroons, who will be looking for improvement underneath but have the star power to be a tricky proposition for opposition clubs.
ST MARY’S
Nickname: Saints
President: Troy Cashman
Coach: Neil Shaw
Captain: Wendyl Pires
Last Season: Sixth
Most Runs: Kusan Niranjana (271 runs at 20.85); Junaid Kari (213 runs at 16.38)
Most Wickets: Kusan Niranjana (24 wickets at 15); Deeshan Vimukthi (17 wickets at 17.82)
In: Raveen Kalumshehara (North Dandenong)
Out: Archie Rajapakse
Home Base: Carroll Reserve, Dandenong
Turf 1 premierships: 7
Most recent premiership: 2002/03
First match: vs North Dandenong, Lois Twohig Reserve
More: The Saints enter the Turf 1 season as one of the great unknowns, and an exciting team to keep an eye on. The group was ulta-competitive last season, perhaps better than its sixth position and three win season suggests, and will be hoping it can take another step and not just make up the numbers. There’s been little movement in or out as the club looks for stability, with Raveen Kalumshehara coming in to help bolster the batting after the loss of Archie Rajapakse, with Wendyl Pires to replace Rajapakse as skipper as the club looks to forge forward. The Saints are excited about what Corey Ely can produce with a full season expected from him, with his economic and smart bowling in the one-day format seen as a major factor. Deeshan Vimukthi and Kusan Niranjana will be better for the run after impressive debut seasons for the club last season, and will be hoping for other senior members to stand up and really nudge the top-four. All-rounder Niranjana was particularly excellent last season, leading the side for runs and wickets, and with the group continuing to stabilize and build a strong base, is one to really note down as one to watch across the association. A run at the finals is within sights if they can snag some surprise wins.
