GOLDEN Square captain Tim Wood says the message in response to last weekend’s batting disaster has been basic ahead of Saturday’s BDCA clash against Eaglehawk at Canterbury Park.
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And that is simply to compete, which Square failed to do with the bat against Huntly-North Epsom last Saturday when it was routed for just 42 in what was a 203-run one-day defeat.
“All we’re asking for this week is just to be competitive and to put a price on our wicket,” Wood said on Friday.
“We didn’t offer much resistance last week, so as far as we’re concerned with both batting and bowling, it’s just about competing and making sure we’re always in the game to give ourselves a chance against Eaglehawk.”
Wood was forced to watch on from the sidelines last weekend as the Square innings ended inside 22 overs.
The skipper was ruled out of the game with concussion after suffering a nasty blow to the helmet from Kangaroo Flat paceman Brent Hamblin at Country Week squad training three days earlier.
“It knocked me around for a few days, but I had a hit last night and got through that pretty well, so I’m keen to get back into it on Saturday,” Wood said.
Since returning from the mid-season break, Golden Square has lost its past two matches to the Power and Kangaroo Flat and has now slipped a game outside the top four.
“We’ve beaten some quality teams this season, so it’s not like we’re that far off the mark, but obviously the difference between our best and worst is fairly large,” Wood said.
“If we want to be thereabouts at the end of the season then we have to close the gap and it all comes back to just getting out there every week and competing.”
Meanwhile, stalwart Nick Crawford will play his 200th first XI game for Bendigo United when the Redbacks – minus Ben Gunn and Heath Behrens – take on Huntly-North Epsom at Sunline Plastering Oval.
All-rounder Crawford joined Bendigo United in 2001-02 following 70 first XI games at Strathdale-Maristians, including playing in the 1995 premiership.
Since joining the Redbacks, wily veteran Crawford has played in five premiership teams – 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2014 – and combined 4288 runs with 393 wickets.
• Round 10 games – Strathfieldsaye v Strathdale, White Hills v Sandhurst, Bendigo v Kangaroo Flat, Huntly-North Epsom v Bendigo United, Eaglehawk v Golden Square.
• BDCA ladder:
Kangaroo Flat – 39
Eaglehawk – 36
Bendigo United – 33
Strathdale – 33
Sandhurst – 33
Golden Square – 27
Huntly-North – 24
White Hills – 21
Bendigo – 15
Strathfieldsaye – 9