BDCA 2021-22 SEASON PREVIEW - Bendigo United shaping as major improvers

BDCA 2021-22 SEASON PREVIEW - Eaglehawk headed on the right trajectory

FOR Golden Square, the only way is up as it approaches the 2021-22 Bendigo District Cricket Association season.

The Bulldogs are coming off a rare wooden spoon last season with only three wins.

It will be a similar Golden Square side that takes to the field again this season, although, there is one familiar face who has departed with veteran all-rounder Grant Connelly having moved from Bendigo to Horsham.

The Bulldogs will be led for the third season by all-rounder Liam Smith as captain.

One new player to Wade Street is Scott Ross from Marong to play at the same club as his son, Lachie.

"Lachie is one of our junior players who will more than likely play some B grade for us, so Scott has come across to play with him," Smith said.

"That's about it in terms of ins for the club this season, so we'll be fairly similar."

The Bulldogs side will potentially shape up with Tom Campbell and Riley Hocking opening the batting, with the pair among only four players last season who made more than 160 runs for Golden Square.

Smith, Scott Trollope, Jake Higgins and wicket-keeper Max Grant provide plenty of experience in the Bulldogs' batting line-up alongside the likes of Kayle Thompson, Jack Keating and Ben Derrick.

"It's a relatively young and inexperienced side we've got, but I feel that after getting so many games into our younger players last season I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do with a bit more expectation on them," Smith said.

The Bulldogs' bowling department will get a boost with the return of Connor Miller after he was impacted by a shoulder injury last season.

The bulk of the bowling is likely to be done by Miller, Trollope, Thompson and Callum Tibbett with the spin of left-armer Smith and Higgins.

The Bulldogs will need to be better at spreading the load with the ball after Trollope (28) and Smith (19) last season combined for 43 per cent of Golden Square's wickets.

Trollope and Smith were the only players to take more than nine wickets in what was a side that was somewhat of a revolving door with 24 players used.

"Hopefully, this season we can have more of a balanced line-up in terms of consistency," Smith said.

"I still think there's probably four to five players in B grade who could step up to play A grade, but hopefully, we have players who can play consistently and well enough to cement their positions and we can be more settled.

"I definitely think we have a lot of potential to have an improved season."

ROUND 1 - November 13

v Huntly-North Epsom (h)

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ROUND 2 - November 20

v Bendigo (a)

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ROUND 3 - November 27

v Kangaroo Flat (h)

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ROUND 4 - December 4

v Bendigo United (a)

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ROUND 5 - December 11

v Eaglehawk (h)

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ROUND 6 - December 18

v Strathfieldsaye (a)

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ROUND 7 - January 8

v Sandhurst (a)

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ROUND 8 - January 15

v White Hills (h)

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ROUND 9 - January 22

v Strathdale (h)

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ROUND 10 - January 29

v Huntly-North Epsom (a)

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ROUND 11 - February 5

v Bendigo (h)

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ROUND 12 - February 6

v Kangaroo Flat (a)

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ROUND 13 - February 12

v Bendigo United (h)

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ROUND 14 - February 19

v Eaglehawk (a)

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ROUND 15 - February 26

v Strathfieldsaye (h)

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ROUND 16 - March 5

v Sandhurst (h)

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ROUND 17 - March 6

v White Hills (a)

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ROUND 18 - March 12

v Strathdale (a)

Finished - 10th

Record - 3-12-3, 0.81%

Bat - 9th Ball - 6th

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Leading run-scorers:

387 - Liam Smith

304 - Scott Trollope

260 - Riley Hocking

241 - Tom Campbell

155 - Max Grant

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Leading wicket-takers:

28 - Scott Trollope

19 - Liam Smith

9 - Kayle Thompson

8 - Corey Van Aken

7 - Jack Keating

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Leading MVP points:

944 - Scott Trollope

887 - Liam Smith

425 - Riley Hocking

365 - Max Grant

335 - Kayle Thompson

v Bendigo

Won: 15 Lost: 12

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v Bendigo United

Won: 14 Lost: 21

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v Eaglehawk

Won: 13 Lost: 18

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v Huntly-North Epsom

Won: 17 Lost: 9

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v Kangaroo Flat

Won: 15 Lost: 13 Tied: 1

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v Sandhurst

Won: 19 Lost: 6

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v Strathdale-Maristians

Won: 11 Lost: 21

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v Strathfieldsaye

Won: 19 Lost: 7

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v White Hills

Won: 18 Lost: 9 Tied: 1

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