By Jonty Ralphsmith and David Nagel
It’s been a funny old season in CCCA Premier Division to date with fresh faces dominating with the ball and a battalion of experienced batters showcasing their talents with the willow.
For what it’s worth, here are our selections for the CCCA Premier Division mid-season Team of the Year.
Daniel McCalman – Merinda Park
344 runs at 43. High Scores: 181, 54, 54.
Has played a lone hand for many years at Merinda Park and while there have been glimpses of improvement this season, they have generally been batting around McCalman. Playing through pain, his steady 180 against Kooweerup had teammates, neutrals and opponents singing his praises. The consistent cog seems to have somehow found another level this season.
Trevor Bauer – Clyde
295 runs at 42.14. High Scores: 116, 52.
Has a century and a half century this season which have made up the bulk of his runs, but the first-year Clyde skipper had made a habit of blunting the new ball and seeing off the opening spell even when dismissed without getting away on the scoreboard. That’s exactly what you want from your opening batter, and the Cougars will hope he gets rewarded going forward. Plays straight and doesn’t get flustered which provides belief that a strong second half of the season is on the horizon.
Josh Lownds – Tooradin
281 runs at 56.2. High Scores: 65*, 54
10 wickets at 20. Best Bowling: 2/21
Hasn’t been as dominant with bat and ball this season, but is still building nicely towards another season of note. It was a tough choice between Lownds and Chris Cleef and Mark Cooper for this spot in our side, but Lowndsy gets the nod courtesy of his consistency with bat and ball. His most recent five hits read 54, 65*, 40, 35* and 44*, while he has taken wickets in six games this season.
Chris Bright – Kooweerup
443 runs at 88.6. High Scores: 205, 68, 64, 62
Gave up the gloves this season to dedicate more energy to his batting and it’s worked in spades, with ‘Wombat’ 99 runs clear at the top of the Premier Division runs list. Has made three half centuries this season, but his spectacular 205 not out in Kooweerup’s epic run-chase against Merinda Park in round four has been spoken about widely as one of the greatest innings ever played in the WGCA/CCCA.
Shiran Rathnayake – Kooweerup
323 runs at 46.14. High Scores: 102, 61, 58
15 wickets at 18.27. Best Bowling: 6/106
Kooweerup’s Phillip Island recruit has captured the attention of the competition this season as an organised middle order batter with so much time at the crease. Always scores in the vicinity of a run a ball and his arrival at the crease immediately transfers pressure back onto the bowling team. His spinners have also caused confusion amongst opposition batters, sitting equal third on the wicket-taking list this season.
Dominic Paynter – Pakenham
272 runs at 68. High Score: 164
The former Pakenham skipper played his best innings since his return from retirement last season in round seven, scoring a run-a-ball 164 in the middle-order for Pakenham against Kooweerup. The hard-hitter did it against arguably Pakenham’s biggest rivals for the premiership and has also had a few handy cameos in tandem with Zac Chaplin during tricky chases to start the season.
Bradey Welsh – Tooradin (wk)
151 runs at 30.2. High Score: 66*
Started the season with positive signs before a quieter period going into Christmas but still has the best record of all ‘keepers in the competition. Has the proactive intent you want from a middle-order bat which has been needed at times for an at-times floundering Cardinia top-order, and is proven and experienced with the gloves.
Tyler Evans – Tooradin
19 wickets at 17.05. Best Bowling: 5/74
Tooradin has been without express paceman Brad Butler this season which has put the onus on others to intimidate upfront and Evans has risen to the challenge. The high point of his season so far was a round seven spell against Cardinia which yielded figures of 4/35 at less than two runs per over, and five wickets against Devon Meadows in round four also highlights his consistency.
Ankush Rana – Clyde
17 wickets at 16.18. Best Bowling: 4/22
A big part of Clyde’s resurgence after a difficult start, Rana created plenty of chances in the early part of the season and has led the way in a couple of strong Cougars bowling performances. Has taken four wickets in each of his last three games, against Upper Beaconsfield, Merinda Park and Pakenham, and looms as a big threat as the Cougars look to push towards finals.
Connor O’Riordan – Tooradin
15 wickets at 9.87. Best Bowling: 4/23
Perhaps a surprise selection, but has shot up the wicket-taking chart and has done it as a player not blessed with unbelievable amounts of pace or seam. His discipline, work rate and ability to bowl to plans frustrates batters and many have succumbed to the pressure. Offers something a little bit different and is one who has plenty of upside in his first season of First XI cricket.
Jordan Seers – Pakenham
15 wickets at 13.13. Best Bowling: 4/29
The young leg-spinner only turned 22 earlier this week and is slowly but surely gaining the experience and knowledge required to become a consistent deliverer of the hardest skill in the game. Leggies don’t grow on trees, and new captain Jack Anning knows what he has at his disposal, providing Seers with ample opportunity to showcase his skills this season. He averages 13.13, at an economy rate of 3.28 runs per over, that’s very impressive stuff for a young leggie.
