Berwick batsman Dave Hampton, hitting a boundary in last season’s final, has handed the captaincy over to former Victorian player and star team-mate Will Carr this season, who will also coach the side.
By Marc McGowan
THE Dandenong and District Cricket Association Turf One season looks set to be a close one, with several of last year’s top teams returning largely unscathed and primed to feature strongly again when the season opens this weekend.
Berwick accounted for Springvale South by four wickets in last season’s grand final to emerge as premiers for the first time in 10 years.
It has been an eventful off-season for the Bears, but it has been all positive news with middle-order batsman Chris Underwood’s defection to South Australia the only loss, although the club is hopeful of regaining his services before the season is out.
Former Victorian fast bowler Will Carr has been elevated to captain-coach, after only returning from district ranks last season. He replaces Dave Hampton, who decided a younger player should take on the role.
English imports Alex Roberts and James Davies headline the arrivals at Arch Brown Reserve, with all-rounder Roberts expected to fill the import spot in the Turf One side, while Davies waits in the wings.
The club is also celebrating the return of Ash Henry from St Mary’s, who will no doubt reassert himself as one of the competition’s best leg spinners and middle-order batsman Hayden Stanton, who is back after a two-year sabbatical.
Berwick secretary Ray Purkiss said they still had a strong side.
“In fact, I think we might have a better balance this year,” he said.
The Bears will receive stiff opposition again from perennial contender Springvale South, which has reached the grand final three years running, but has lost Darren Arter, Graham Rainer and Tim Kelson to retirement.
Star English batsman Danny Law is back again, but top-order batsman Craig Slocombe will take over the captaincy from Law, as well as inheriting the coaching reins this season.
The major gain for the side is Australian indoor cricket all-rounder Lance MacDougall, while all-rounder Chris Nuske from Hallam and wicketkeeper Steve Aitken (Coomoora) are also handy additions.
Despite initially losing Rory Ingram, who moved to Turf Three team Silverton to be captain-coach, the wicketkeeper has returned and will compete with Aitken for the right to stand behind the stumps for Springvale South’s Turf One side.
Springvale South secretary Kevin Murphy said they were pretty confident that if everyone stayed on the park, they’d play finals again.
“We’re pretty happy to maintain most of last season’s team,” he said.
The two grand finalists can expect another tough challenge from last season’s semi-finalists North Dandenong.
The maroon and blacks succumbed to Springvale South in their semi-final clash, but have bolstered their bowling stocks with supreme talent and look set to go close again.
The club has nabbed Warwickshire fast bowler Paul Court this season and he is hoping to make his debut in round two, after a slightly strained back ruled him out for this weekend.
Fast bowler Stuart Mack is also a valuable addition from district side Prahran, after taking 40 wickets in his last Turf One season in 2004-05.
Batsman Scott Neeson has also moved to North Dandenong from Prahran, while Paul McDonald and Roshan Pererra have departed.
St Mary’s, Narre Warren, Dandenong West, Buckley Ridges, Keysborough, Parkfield, Southern Pirates, Cranbourne and Doveton make up the other nine spots in the competition.
