By Marcus Uhe
With the home and away season coming to a close, it’s time to pick the Team of the Year from the season that was in CCCA District cricket.
Lots of players put their hand up and some made themselves impossible to ignore, but we’re looking for consistency of performance across the long season.
It’s Panther-heavy, with sprinklings of Bombers and Maroons throughout, but given Devon Meadows’ dominance all year, it’s something that has to be rewarded.
1 – Lucas Ligt
Devon Meadows
Arguably the easiest selection in a team of the year since whoever invented the concept first selected a representative side.
Finished well-clear of the other batters to top the run-scorers chart with 832 at 104 (!) with four hundreds, while also snagging 19 wickets at 13 with the ball, often taking the new rock for the Panthers too.
2 – Jeremy Markland
NNG/Maryknoll
Has been super consistent outside of a three-week stretch in which he scored in single figures. 542 runs at 45, with five fifties, highlighted his reliability at the top of the Marygoons’ order. He will be filthy that he could not break through for an elusive hundred, once stranded on 92 and then stumped on 99 against Gembrook. Will also keep-wicket.
3 – Imesh Jayasekara
Upper Beaconsfield
Another recognised for his consistency of performance. In his final six hits of the season, he’s scored 108, 97, 27, 7, 73 and 106, to finish with 629 runs at 52. A particularly impressive feat considering the long boundaries and slow wicket at his home deck at Beaconsfield Upper Reserve.
4 – Dale Cranston
Lang Lang
Just gets the edge on his spinning teammate Oshadha Ariyadasa to be the leading tweaker in the side. 21 wickets at 13 for the left arm orthodox bowler who used variations in pace and flight to get the better of his opponents. Opened the batting for the Tigers but couldn’t edge the two selected to open for this side, despite the three half-centuries.
5 – Amith Eranda
Emerald
How can you leave out a guy who made a triple-hundred and then backed it up with 5/35 in the same game? His two biggest scores were both unbeaten, which no-doubt assisted his average, but two half-centuries to go with his monster score shows his quality of output. 13 wickets at 16 means he cans send down some overs too, if required.
6 – Chris Cleef
Devon Meadows
28 wickets leads the competition for total scalps, highlighted by 7/63 against Pakenham Upper Toomuc in a two-day game in round seven.
Hasn’t been among the runs this season but with the form of his top order, he’s been short on opportunities; there’s two DNBs and two not-outs, but still managed 248 runs at 24.8.
7 – Will Halton
Devon Meadows
Has been Ligt’s right-hand man for much of the season, hitting five scores above 40 to finish with an average just under 47, from 422 runs. Ligt referenced their unbeaten 229-run partnership in round 10, where Halton made 105, as his favourite innings from a glittering year.
8 – Chad McDonald
Upper Beaconsfield
Has steamed-in consistently and led the Maroons’ bowling attack, bringing fire and energy to the crease and making his presence felt with the ball. 19 wickets at 20 for the side that finished second on the table merits his selection among a quality field of seam bowlers.
9 – Carter Davis
NNG/Maryknoll
The youngster acquitted himself well in his first season of District cricket and will be one that that the Marygoons will be hoping to hold-on to long term.
Failed to take a wicket in just two appearances, finishing the year with 20 at 22. It’ll be a great opportunity to broaden his skill-set and rub shoulders amongst some experienced District cricket competitors too.
10 – Ben McLeod
Pakenham Upper Toomuc
His season figures took a hit after a battering from Amith Eranda in round 14, but outside of that he had been excellent for the Yabbies.
Extracted bounce and lift off the wicket to trouble batters with the new ball, to take 22 wickets at an average of 24, which drops to 20 at 16.9 without to Eranda’s onslaught, and fell just short of a hundred against Gembrook in round 13. 6/74 against the top side in Devon Meadows was his standout performance from the season.
11 – Sam Stapleton
Emerald
Went wicketless in his final two hit-outs but we’re not going to get sucked-in to recent bias. 19 wickets from his 12 matches went a long way in putting the Bombers right in the hunt for a potential finals opportunity.
