Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
HUNTLY-North Epsom captain Elliott Massina says he's looking forward to blooding some of the club's younger talent in the upcoming Bendigo District Cricket Association season.
"We're probably looking to promote a bit more youth this season with some good kids coming through the club," Massina said.
"Judd Gilchrist is a really good young player; Abe Sladden wicket-kept in the final for us last season and did a terrific job; we've got Jack Wilson and Kyen Burrill-Grinton who are good young players as well.
"We probably haven't played enough of our kids over the past few years, so it's something we'll look to do a lot more of this season... with some good performances in the B grade we think they will get plenty of opportunity."
Gone from last season's Power team that was beaten by Eaglehawk in the elimination final are all-rounder and 2019 premiership player Sandun Ranathunga, who has been a key player with bat and ball - and in the field - over the past four seasons.
Top-order batsman and leg-spinner Ranathunga has joined Goulburn Murray side Bamawm-Lockington United.
Joining the Power is Pathum De Mel from Mooroduc.
"Pat is an all-rounder who has captained Chelsea for three or four years and played at Moorooduc last season where he made the Mornington-Peninsula Team of the Year," said Massina, who is embarking on his sixth season as Power captain.
"He looks to be a really good cricketer and a really good bloke.
"He will bat in the middle-to-lower order and will bowl fairly early. He bowls some handy medium-pace, so he's a good pick-up for us.
"We haven't made a lot of changes and will be reasonable similar to last year with only Pat in and Sandun out.
"Adam Ward and Brett Elvey are both right to go again and Pete Manser is in better shape after playing some footy this year, so, hopefully, we'll get him bending his back a bit more and I see him as being like a new recruit.
"Ryan (Grundy) and Danushka (Wijemanna) are good to go again and with those younger guys coming through, we're looking forward to getting back into it."
The Power have made the finals the past three seasons during which they have won 33 of 44 games.
"Our aim is to play finals again and I think that would be our pass mark for this season," Massina said.
"We're priding ourselves on putting ourselves consistently up amongst it each year and that's what we're aiming to do again."
SEASON FIXTURE:
ROUND 1 - November 13
v Golden Square (a)
............................................
ROUND 2 - November 20
v Sandhurst (h)
............................................
ROUND 3 - November 27
v White Hills (a)
............................................
ROUND 4 - December 4
v Strathdale (a)
............................................
ROUND 5 - December 11
v Strathfieldsaye (h)
............................................
ROUND 6 - December 18
v Bendigo (h)
............................................
ROUND 7 - January 8
v Kangaroo Flat (a)
............................................
ROUND 8 - January 15
v Bendigo United (h)
............................................
ROUND 9 - January 22
v Eaglehawk (a)
............................................
ROUND 10 - January 29
v Golden Square (h)
............................................
ROUND 11 - February 5
v Sandhurst (a)
............................................
ROUND 12 - February 6
v White Hills (h)
............................................
ROUND 13 - February 12
v Strathdale (h)
............................................
ROUND 14 - February 19
v Strathfieldsaye (a)
............................................
ROUND 15 - February 26
v Bendigo (a)
............................................
ROUND 16 - March 5
v Kangaroo Flat (h)
............................................
ROUND 17 - March 6
v Bendigo United (a)
............................................
ROUND 18 - March 12
v Eaglehawk (h)
LAST SEASON FLASHBACK:
Finished - 4th
Record - 11-5-3, 1.28%
Bat - 2nd Ball - 3rd
............................................
Leading run-scorers:
536 - Ryan Grundy
380 - Danushka Wijemanna
366 - Adam Ward
296 - Sandun Ranathunga
247 - Elliott Massina
............................................
Leading wicket-takers:
29 - Malan Madusanka
23 - Sandun Ranathunga
21 - Adam Ward
17 - Brett Elvey
14 - Elliott Massina
............................................
Leading MVP points:
891 - Sandun Ranathunga
871 - Adam Ward
686 - Malan Madusanka
632 - Elliott Massina
625 - Danushka Wijemanna
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS SINCE 2000:
v Bendigo
Won: 8 Lost: 19
............................................
v Bendigo United
Won: 6 Lost: 19
............................................
v Eaglehawk
Won: 8 Lost: 20 Tied: 1
............................................
v Golden Square
Won: 9 Lost: 17
............................................
v Kangaroo Flat
Won: 7 Lost: 18
............................................
v Sandhurst
Won: 14 Lost: 16
............................................
v Strathdale-Maristians
Won: 2 Lost: 26
............................................
v Strathfieldsaye
Won: 9 Lost: 17 Tied: 1
............................................
v White Hills
Won: 12 Lost: 16
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News