By JARROD POTTER
BERWICK is set to put a lacklustre 2012/13 behind them with a strong side ready to challenge in the Dandenong District Cricket Association.
“As far as we’re concerned we will be pushing for a top-four spot,” Berwick captain/coach Jarrod Goodes said.
“We’ve had excellent numbers, intensity and enthusiasm is fairly good as we’re a fairly young side.
Four or five under-25 – we’re fairly young, keen and enthusiastic and think we’ll be pushing for a finals spot again this year.”
While West Indian spearhead Ryan Hercules won’t return to the Bears this season, Berwick has found a more than able replacement with Nirmal Wickramaratne making the jump across from Narre Warren.
“Nirmal… he’s going to be a very good player for us, bowl plenty of overs and bat in the middle order,” Goodes said.
“He’d actually been told by Narre he wasn’t going to be playing for a spot, we always got along with him and when we found out he wasn’t going to be there we pursued him.”
Narre Warren has also lost the services of all-rounder Ateeq Javid, and young bowling pair James Giertz and Nathan King.
Goodes was particularly excited about the development of Tanner Stanton – Berwick’s 17-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder – and the players the club will also get back for a full season will be Chris Davies and Wes Perera
All this hopefully generates a few more players to help out all-rounder Ryan Crawford – who snared 20 wickets last season and made 247 runs at 30.9. Along with Ash Henry – the wily leg-spinner who struck 27 times in 2012/13 – to help the Bears regain the ground they lost last season after capturing the 2011/12 DDCA Turf 1 flag.
Berwick opens the season against Heinz Southern Districts on Saturday in a two-dayer at Reedy Reserve.
TURF 1
Heinz Southern Districts
Captain: Trevor Davies.
Players In: Matthew Cox.
Players Out: Daniel Morrison.
Players to watch: Paul Stockdale, Jason Bartlett and Adam Semmens.
General comments: We are looking for a big year from our younger players and expect them to make the next step into Turf 1 this season.
TURF 2
Cranbourne
Captain: Faisal Payenda
Players In: Trevor Johnston ex POB, Lucas Ligt ex CSMCC, Daniel Polson ex Carrum.
Players Out: Danny Diwell to Merinda Park, Scott Eastwood (ret).
Players to watch: Jordon Cleland, Akaati Pupuke, Jake Harrington.
General comments: Following last season’s GF loss the club is determined to go one better.
Narre South
Captain: Rhys Whitling.
Players In: Aggie D’mello, Luke Flynne, Lachlan West, Nathan Monk, Corey Rowe, Ali Mortaza.
Players to watch: Nathan Monk and Corey Rowe.
Comments: gained plenty of experience of which we lacked last year. Nathan Monk comes in along with stalwart Aggie D’mello along with the big hitting Corey Rowe. Looking for a far better result than we had last year.
Hampton Park
Captain: James Alexander.
Players In: Matt Brooks (Lysterfield), Hayden Roberts (French Island).
Players to watch: Matt Brooks, James Alexander, Danny Cortese, Tim Fathers.
General comments: Club is excited to be back in Turf 2 and back playing at Booth Reserve after redevelopment. We believe we will hold our own in Turf 2.
