By Nick Creely
With the beginning of the cricket season just three weeks away, Endeavour Hills is wasting no time in preparing for a defining 2017/18 campaign.
After a rather forgettable 2016/17 season, the Eagles under President Jay Stent have been plugging away in a hectic off-season down at Sydney Pargeter Reserve.
The club has appointed champion player Richard Saniga as its new head coach in a revamped coaching panel that also includes veterans Brad Baptist and Vaughan Baxter, as well as developing stars Wes Dunkley and Alistair Reed.
Stent said the club is delighted with the appointment of Saniga as head coach and believes the coaching panel that has been put in place will support the club’s overall direction.
“We are re-defining our culture around the concepts of inclusion, shared responsibility, support for each other and fun,” he explained.
“We believe Richie is the perfect person to lead this development. He is a skilled and highly competitive cricketer who is respected by all for his achievements.
The club has also announced the signings of Nilo Perera, Kumbu Jayasundera and Harry Johnson.
“Nilo and Kumbu have re-signed after successful seasons last year when Nilo was Club Champion and Kumbu leading wicket taker,” Stent said.
“Harry is a young batsmen/ wicketkeeper who will join us from the UK. Despite being injured for part of the recent English season, Harry has shown some impressive form for Warwickshire 2nd XI and U/19 team and is looking forward to joining us for the season.”
The club is also expecting to be in a position to announce more new signings in the coming days and weeks.
With the club well and truly in the midst of pre-season training, Stent said he is excited by the eagerness around the place.
“Richie has already had a positive effect. His enthusiasm is infectious and his emphasis on support and enjoyment is exactly what we want the club to build,” he said.
“I am really impressed by the number of young players who are attending.
“They are our major focus – we want to provide an environment where they can improve and be challenged, and where they enjoy playing their cricket.”
The club is also hoping that their new facilities are ready after the Christmas break.
“We have been fortunate to have been given funding for an electronic scoreboard which should be installed shortly after the new year,” Stent said.
“We are also hoping that our re-located second turf wicket will be ready in the second half of the year.”
