By Ian Ferguson
WEST Gippsland charts unfamiliar territory when it begins its Country Week campaign on Monday, 13 February. Last year, after languishing in section four for several frustrating seasons, the local side won the final in that group, which elevated West Gippsland to the higher standard of section three. Expectations are high, so it is appropriate now to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of this year’s team.
The West Gippsland batting appeared strong. Brad Miles is a class act in any standard of country cricket, Ben Maroney is a proven performer in higher levels of the game and skipper Ben DaRose, Nic Close, Luke Sibley and Trevor Johnston have all amassed useful scores at previous carnivals. Kris Fletcher should add much needed solidity at the top of the order and all-rounders Matt Hutchinson, Andrew Cooper, Ryan O’Connor and Adam Thornton are all in good form.
There is concern, however, about the depth of the WGCA bowling attack, for without Simon Cornell there does not appear to be a bowler capable of ripping through talented top-order batting. Cornell, who is now performing well with Berwick’s Turf 1 team, was the strike bowler at previous carnivals and in the short term may prove irreplaceable.
However there are several competent bowlers who collectively may perform well. Nyora all-rounder Matt Hutchinson is sure to exert a positive influence, Matt Finch and Jason Dodd are frugal and penetrating fast bowlers and Cooper and O’Connor add necessary depth and variety to a hard-working attack. Spinner Scott Pitcher, who many believe was under-used at his previous carnival, could be a surprise packet, especially if the other bowlers have removed the opposition’s top order.
Wicketkeeper Luke Turner is in good form and both Johnson and Miles are adequate reserve glovemen if required. Miles, Hutchinson and Thornton are excellent fieldsmen and the remainder are all capable performers.
Overall, if the West Gippsland bowlers perform well as a group, this team has the capabilities to win section three if the weather does not adversely affect its chances and the injury toll is minimal. At the very least West Gippsland should avoid the indignity of relegation back to Section Four, and the experience at this higher level of the carnival should benefit the association in future years.
The support group for the team will be team manager Brett Armitage, scorer Steve Miles and bus driver Steve Shack.
