By David Nagel
CCCA PREMIER DIVISION – SEASON PREVIEW
CARDINIA
2022/23: 4th – 7 wins
President: Brayden Browne
Coach: Bradey Welsh
Captain: Dean Henwood
Ins: Travis Welsh (Top-order bat from A Grade), Daniel Salvato (Keeper/Bat).
Outs: Jake Prosser, Lachlan Volpe, Nathan Volpe, Cameron Stow, Leigh Paterson.
Leading run scorers: Bradey Welsh (361), Morteza Ali (360), Jake Prosser (356), Alex Nooy (256), Nathan Volpe (227).
Leading wicket-takers: Travis Wheller (25), Jake Prosser (23), Lachlan Volpe (22), Dean Henwood (17), Joshua Grogan (17).
We Say:
The Bulls have lost some serious strike-power in both batting and bowling departments but still have the talent to push for a place in the 2023/24 finals series. The loss of former skipper Jake Prosser is huge for the Bulls on several fronts; including 356 runs, 23 wickets, and 126 overs bowled last season. Prosser’s hard-edged style of play certainly left a mark at Gunton Oval, but his departure could free things up and see talented individuals come out of their shells a bit more. The Bulls keep the nucleus of their batting order, with Bradey Welsh, Morteza Ali and Alex Nooy finishing top-four in runs scored, but the loss of Leigh Paterson will hurt down the order. Paterson dug the Bulls out of a hole on quite a few occasions last year…and more often than not after a stunning top-or-middle-order collapse. The Bulls’ top order need to kick on with starts, with the best score apart from Ali’s 134 being a 67 from Welsh last season.
Travis Wheller bowled the second-most amount of overs in the CCCA Premier Division last year (185), and may have to bowl even more with fellow spinners Prosser and Lachlan Volpe no longer teammates.
A first-up visit to reigning premier Kooweerup is a very tough way to start!
Prediction: 5th
