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15. RICHARD TIBBETT (Eaglehawk) – no-one has the batsmen jumping around the crease these days more than the big blonde from Canterbury Park. Always enjoy watching the Tibbett thunderbolts from the safety of the sidelines, with just how damaging he can be when he’s on song coming two years ago when he took 8-32 against Strathdale-Maristians – the BDCA’s best bowling figures since 2000. Needs one more wicket to notch 100 first XI scalps.
14. LINTON JACOBS (Strathdale-Maristians) – three-time premiership captain of the Suns, and also the current skipper of the BDCA representative squad. Keeper-batsman, who has been used in a variety of roles in the batting line-up from opening to the middle. Averages 32 over 13 seasons and should tick over 4000 career runs this summer. One of only four current-day BDCA players who has a double ton to his name.
13. NICK SCULLIE (Strathfieldsaye) – first year back at the Jets after spending the previous 11 seasons at Sandhurst. Comes in at No.5 on the list of BDCA run-scorers since 2000 with 5144 at an average of 42. And through that time ranks No.3 for centuries made with nine. Four of those tons came during his Cricketer of the Year 2006-07 season that featured one four innings patch when he made 531 runs at an average of 265.5. Was Sandhurst’s leading run-scorer in eight of his 11 seasons at the Dragons and consistently puts a high price on his wicket. Like No.14 Jacobs, also has a double-century on his CV.
12. MIGGY PODOSKY (Bendigo United) – the smiling assassin of the BDCA who three times in his six completed seasons has taken 30-plus wickets. Has relished the big stage, having taken 28 wickets in 10 finals, including memorable bags of 5-41 (2009 semi-final v Golden Square) and 7-49 (2014 semi-final v Strathdale). Arguably the most improved tail-ender with the bat over the past two years. In fact, he’d argue he now deserves all-rounder status. He made nine runs in his first three seasons. He’s since made 255 the past three.
11. SAM JOHNSTON (Strathdale-Maristians) – his club is listed as the Suns, but so far, all of his BDCA work has been done with Huntly-North Epsom, where he played four seasons. Carried a massive workload for the Power with the ball, bowling 890 overs, taking a wicket every 7.5. Bowled in 50 games for the Power and took at least one wicket in 44 of them. Combined 117 wickets at the Power with a batting average of 23. Been a valuable inclusion into the Melbourne Country Week squad the past three seasons, where he has average 40 with the bat.
10. ANDREW SMITH (Eaglehawk) – bit of a technicality here considering he’s “retired” from first XI and dropped back to the twos, but hey, he’s still playing BDCA. Rarely over the past decade has there been a game where the veteran hasn’t had an impact on a match with either bat or ball. Played 13 seasons in the ones for 272 wickets and 3663 runs. Has been the Hawks’ leading wicket-taker in seven of the past 10 seasons.
9. BEN DEVANNY (Strathfieldsaye) – probably would have only scraped into the top 25 at best this time a year ago. But the Jets’ skipper is coming off a Cricketer of the Year season and has started this summer superbly to rocket into the top 10. Didn’t make a century in his first 11 seasons in the ones, but has now made three in his past 12 hits dating back to round six, last season. Taken 50 wickets the past two seasons for a career tally of 144, while he surpassed 3000 runs last weekend. Has also done a bit of wicket-keeping along the journey.
8. NICK CRAWFORD (Bendigo United) – a wily old fox who since debuting in 1991 for his first club Strathdale has six premiership medals – one with the Suns, and five with the Redbacks. Captained the Redbacks’ 2003 premiership. Since 2000 the all-rounder ranks No.2 in the BDCA for wickets (359) with his off-spin, and No.6 for runs (4746). With the WWE's Shawn Michael known as “Mr Wrestlemania”, Crawford’s record in finals, which in the past eight years has included four hauls of five-plus wickets, could easily earn him the BDCA’s tag of “Mr March”.
* New recruits to competition not included in list.