By Justin Schwarze
Star bowler Devon Gabriel-Brown has been in elite form for Officer this season in the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association District competition.
Gabriel-Brown’s numbers have been nothing short of stellar, with most notably an 11-wicket match against Lang Lang earlier in the season, which included his season-best figures of 7/16 in the first innings.
His tally of 22 wickets for the campaign places him second in the competition for wickets taken, but his bowling average is better than any of the top five wicket takers and second amongst the top 10.
With a five-wicket haul in a victory over Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll on Saturday, he’s continued to stay hot and help Officer remain unbeaten on the season.
“Since the back end of last year, he’s bowled really well,” Officer captain Cooper Pursell said.
“If we need a wicket, a big wicket, you pretty much throw him the ball and he’ll get it done.
“I’ve been really impressed with how he’s bowled this year, and he’s got those big wickets.
“He’s got them when we need them, when the game’s going either way, he’s stepped up.
“It’s pretty good to walk out with him and know he’s going to do a job for us.”
Officer currently sits on top of the table with just five rounds remaining, and Gabriel-Brown is a huge reason why.
“It’s a good feeling to back up some hard work and put it all out on the field,” he said.
His consistency has been on full display; taking two or more wickets in five out of his last six innings.
“It’s being able to keep my mind in the game; my first spell something might not go right, but it’s being able to come into my next spell and say to myself, ‘alright, let’s go again, there’s another challenge in front of me,” Gabriel-Brown said of his consistency.
Despite the standout on-field numbers, the 20-year-old dedicates his success to his team and the work they’ve put in behind the scenes.
“We’re training as hard as we can and that’s the main thing we push as a group,” Gabriel-Brown stated.
“Us bowling group, we push each other hard, we push each other in the nets, we push each other out in the middle and we’re trying to get the best balls out of each other.
“We’re a tight-knit group and Cooper’s leading is unreal, the coaches, the support, it takes you to another level in your game.”
Moving forward, Gabriel-Brown’s focus is the same, and his mindset hasn’t changed.
“I want to keep hunting, keep myself in the game, keep training hard, plus try new things,” he said.
“Continue to learn along the way and keep hunting week in and week out.”
The Bullants have their eyes set on one goal this season, and it’s a shared mentality throughout the team.
“We know after last season we missed a pretty big opportunity, so as a group we reflected on that, and we told each other this is our year to hunt each opposition,” he said.
“It motivates me to go even higher, and this year I wanted to push myself and try and be at my best.”
