By David Nagel
The Pakenham Gazette CCCA Premier Division Team of the Year reflects the very best of what’s been an extraordinary home-and-away season.
With the bat there have been nine centuries and 80 half centuries made – counterbalanced with 110 ducks – while the most dangerous bowlers in the competition have cut loose with 18 five-wicket hauls.
There have also been players that haven’t dominated the stats sheet so much, but have been crucial with their impact at critical moments throughout the season.
The following players have dominated those season highlights, and have had thumping impact, earning their place as the cream of the crop in the top-flight of CCCA cricket this season.
1 Luke McMaster – Kooweerup
Batting: 459 runs at 38.25. Best: 193.
Bowling: 26 wickets at 14.42. Best: 7/44.
The stylish opener was a lock at the top of the order for most of the season, making 193 and 98 in his two most memorable knocks. Did finish shakily, with three ducks in his last four innings, but balanced that out with two extraordinary performances with the ball. He took 6/12 against Merinda Park and backed that up with 7/44 in round 14 – consigning Officer to relegation. Hard-hitting with the bat, and quick and dangerous with the ball…there’s no way he could be left out of this season’s CCCA Premier Division Team of the Year.
2 Michael Vandort – Clyde
Batting: 509 runs at 39.15. Best: 91.
Bowling: None.
He ticked over 43 years old on 19 January, but the former Sri Lankan international made his biggest impact in the latter stages of the season. Was steady with three half centuries up until round 11, but showed his class in his last three innings of 63, 91 and 67 to almost single-handedly save Clyde from relegation….they should build him a statue! Came with a huge reputation and ended the season as the highest run-scorer in the Premier Division this season. No centuries, but was the only player to pass 50 on six occasions.
3 Dale Tormey – Pakenham (Captain)
Batting: 454 runs at 56.75. Best: 81.
Bowling: 32 wickets at 14.88. Best: 6/37.
In his fifth season at Pakenham the Lions’ skipper produced a genuine all-round performance, finding the perfect balance between bat and ball after previously being a gun batter who bowled some handy medium pace. Led the competition for wickets with 32, and was one of only three batters – alongside Dylan Sutton (71.50) and Kane Hawkins (57.40) – to average more than 50 this season. Was more consistent than devastating with the blade, but took one haul of six, two fives, and one four, to be one of the most dangerous propositions with the rock. By our calculations, could poll votes in 10 of the Lions 13 games this season. Is a lock for the Terry Stephenson Medal.
4 Shalika Karunanayake – Carlisle Park
Batting: 463 runs at 33.07. Best: 126.
Bowling: Five wickets at 30.40. Best: 2/17.
Flamboyance and brilliance or consistency? Others had more consistent seasons than the Vikings’ gun recruit, but we’re giving him the nod as one of only two players – alongside Tooradin’s Josh Lownds – to make two centuries this year. Made 126 against Clyde, but really pricked ears with consecutive knocks of 69 against Officer and a rampant 111 in round 12 against Pakenham. Hits the ball hard and can take the game away from teams in an instant. Just edges out his skipper Anurudda Fonseka and Tooradin’s Dylan Sutton as a top-order batter in our side.
5 Gamini Kumara – Kooweerup
Batting: 391 runs at 39.10. Best: 84.
Bowling: 15 wickets at 25.00. Best: 4/70.
The best player of the last decade in the Warragul and District Cricket Association came to Denhams Road with big raps…and did take time to deliver. Failed consistently before Christmas, but was the player who held the Demons’ together when things got tough for his teammates at the turn of the new year. Played some crucial innings for the Demons – real match-winners – and his impact probably won’t be fully recognised until voting is tallied for the league best and fairest award. His stats might not suggest so, but we’re tipping a top-five finish for Kumara in the Terry Stephenson Medal.
6 Josh Lownds – Tooradin
Batting: 451 runs at 34.69. Best: 104.
Bowling: 23 wickets at 12.96. Best: 5/48.
Tormey and Lownds were the first two players picked in the Team of the Year after the Seagulls all-rounder produced his best season of cricket, in our opinion just surpassing his breakout numbers (289 runs and 31 wickets) from 2015/16. Had a dream December, crafting centuries against Kooweerup and Carlisle Park, and produced one of the individual highlights of the season – taking five wickets to sit alongside his century against the Demons. His form has reflected that of his team in recent times, having a quiet three-game stretch, but he had so many credits in the bank he was already locked in by that stage.
7 Jason Williams – Pakenham
Batting: 192 runs at 24. Best: 38*.
Bowling: 27 wickets at 20.85. Best: 5/66.
The Lions’ stalwart just edges out Merinda Park lefty Sasindu Perera for the genuine finger-spinning spot, having claimed the most home-and-away wickets of his career. ‘Boof’ put his beautiful right-handed action to good use this season, bowling more overs (181) than any other player in the competition. On nine occasions he took multiple wickets for the Lions, with his 5/66 against Clyde his best output. Started the season well with the bat, but we’ve dropped him down the order in this team to concentrate on his bowling. Had figures of 31 overs, 14 maidens, 4/46 against Cardinia in round seven to show he is still more than up for the fight.
8 Jake Prosser – Cardinia
Batting: 293 runs at 29.30. Best: 53.
Bowling: 20 wickets at 13.35. Best: 5/14.
Prosser…he didn’t have a great year! That might be the immediate response to this selection but – much like Kumara – we’re expecting his overall impact to be rewarded in numbers come polling night. Played a huge role in five of the Bulls’ seven victories this season, in a team that was struggling in the early to middle parts of the season. The Bulls always play in tight, hard-fought games, where every run and wicket counts. Hence, Prosser’s stats might not stack up well against others but his impact on games in 2023/23 far outweighs those fluffy individual numbers. We’ll take him in our team any day!
9 Rob Elston – Pakenham (WK)
Batting: 417 runs at 46.33. Best: 68*.
Fielding: 21 catches, nine stumpings.
Much like Vandort, the Pakenham veteran is showing no signs of slowing down after completing one of his best-ever seasons at the club. With the bat he had his best output since the 2015/16 season, making eight scores of 30 runs or better and turning two of those into half centuries. Elston’s quality behind the stumps has never been questioned and his 21 catches – including nine in two weeks – show his understated reliability. But it’s his glovework up to the stumps that has set him apart this year, completing nine stumpings…six more than his nearest contemporary. The essence of reliability!
10 Brad Butler – Tooradin
Batting: 328 runs at 32.80. Best: 73.
Bowling: 30 wickets at 11.13. Best: 5/38.
There is no more explosive cricketer in the CCCA than the bludgeoning mid/lower-order batter and express pace-bowler from Tooradin. Butler has taken his game to new levels this season, having made runs at a rapid rate or taken multiple wickets in 11 of the Seagulls 13 games this season. Hit a purple patch with the bat just prior to Christmas, making consecutive scores of 73 and 66 not out, and claimed five wickets against Officer in round six. Alongside Luke McMaster, is one of only two players in the competition that can genuinely intimidate opposition with both bat and ball.
11 Senal De Silva – Carlisle Park
Batting: 161 runs at 16.10. Best: 30.
Bowling: 30 wickets at 18.87. Best: 5/36.
In a team mostly full of all-rounders who have excelled in one or both of their crafts, it’s nice to have an opening bowler with one sole purpose in mind…to take wickets. The Vikings right-arm quick has been the best opening bowler of the season, finishing with 30 wickets – equal second in Premier – and one five-wicket haul (5/36). But it’s his consistency that has set him apart, taking three and four wickets once and taking two wickets on seven occasions. His second-best haul of 4/28 came against minor-premier Pakenham in round 12. Storms in and bowls sharp…exactly what we want from our openers.
12 Dylan Sutton – Tooradin
Batting: 429 runs at 71.50. Best: 133.
Bowling: Six wickets at 18.00. Best: 3/22.
The Tooradin all-rounder has made the team for the last two years based on his balance with bat and ball. This year he gets a gig as 12th man, based purely on his batting, with niggling in jury concerns restricting him from long spells with the cherry. Only batted in nine games, but made a stunning 133 against Officer and made half-centuries against Clyde and Pakenham. Gets in mainly because of his batting average of 71.50…15 runs better than any other player to have 300 runs for the season.
