Fleming waits for his fast track

Glen Atwell
A LACK of playable wickets forced the cancellation of round one in the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association (VSDCA) competition on Saturday.
After trying to reshuffle the schedule and locations of games, the decision to abandon the season opening round was made late on Friday afternoon.
Noble Park Cricket Club president Craig Ortland said he was disappointed with the decision.
“It was disappointing considering that our pitch was ready to go and had been for some time,” Ortland said.
But Ortland said a lot of clubs had been restricted in the amount of time they had to prepare their wickets.
“The football finals impacted heavily, especially on Elsternwick, Williamstown and Bayswater,” he said.
At Noble Park, long-time curator David Healey had been preparing the pitch since the Eastern Football League’s semi-final week.
But with the football finals and heavy rain, a number of clubs ran out of preparation time long before the first ball was scheduled.
Ortland said it was not the first time this had happened.
“We rarely play our first round and, after a full preseason and training, it is disappointing the players were geared up to go,” he said.
Ortland said the Noble Park pitch was better than ever this season.
“David has done another great job, it will be hard and fast this year,” he said.
With prized recruit Damien Fleming charging in as strike bowler, a hard and fast pitch is exactly what the doctor on Moodemere Street ordered.
“It should suit Fleming, that’s what we want,” Ortland said.
After the cancellation of round one, a catch-up round on 4 December has been scheduled by the league to make up for the lost game.
This Saturday, Noble Park clashes with Endeavour Hills at Noble Park.
The first ball is scheduled for 1pm.
– Glen Atwell