NEW Mandurang captain Corey Dickins believes his side's strength will lie in its bowling department in the Emu Valley Cricket Association this season.
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"With the likes of James Bailey, who was the leading wicket-taker in the competition last season and has quickened up again; Jeremy Hancock; James Pietromonaco, who is still a really good bowler; and Beau Roy Clements... I think we've got a really good bowling line-up," Dickins said.
The Rangas head into 2021-22 coming off a fourth-placed finish last season after they were beaten by eventual premier Emu Creek by 36 runs in their semi-final tussle.
All-rounder Dickins is taking over as captain of a Rangas' side that has three key departures from last season.
Explosive opening batsman and former skipper Matt Giri has departed, while the classy Zane Keighran and bowler Justin Slater are both headed to Bendigo United, while there are no recruits for the division one side.
Spinner Brodie Hawke was set to play with the Rangas, but will instead play with Eaglehawk in the BDCA.
With Giri having departed it has created an opening slot to fill, with Beau Roy-Clements a potential candidate to take on the new ball with the willow, or another option for the Rangas will be the experienced Phil Berry coming back up from the division two side to open alongside Linton Colclough.
And Mitchell Roberts will step up to take over as wicket-keeper.
"I'd like to think we'd be a side pushing for finals again, but our first aim is just to be competitive every week," said Dickins, who is embarking on his third season at Pearce Reserve.
"And we really want to show that we can match it with the high quality teams like Spring Gully, Emu Creek and United.
"Our numbers at the club aren't too bad; we'll be fielding three teams this season and have enough to cover any injuries or unavailabilities.
"The boys are all really keen to get the season going and stuck into it."
This season will be Dickins' first experience of captaining a senior team.
"It's obviously some added responsibility, but I'm looking forward to it and having the likes of James Pietromonaco still playing and Matt Pask still involved at the club, there's some good senior leaders I can bounce some ideas off," Dickins said.
The Rangas - who won their last flag in 2014-15 - open their season at home against a new-look Axe Creek side on November 13.
SEASON FIXTURE:
ROUND 1 - November 13
v Axe Creek (h)
............................................
ROUND 2 - November 20
v Sedgwick (a)
............................................
ROUND 3 - November 27
v Marong (a)
............................................
ROUND 4 - December 4
v Spring Gully (h)
............................................
ROUND 5 - December 11
v Emu Creek (a)
............................................
ROUND 6 - December 18
v United (a)
............................................
ROUND 7 - January 8
v California Gully (a)
............................................
ROUND 8 - January 15
v West Bendigo (h)
............................................
ROUND 9 - January 22
Bye
............................................
ROUND 10 - January 29
v Axe Creek (a)
............................................
ROUND 11 - February 5
v Sedgwick (h)
............................................
ROUND 12 - February 12
v Marong (h)
............................................
ROUND 13 - February 19
v Emu Creek (h)
............................................
ROUND 14 - February 26
Bye
............................................
ROUND 15 - March 5
v California Gully (h)
............................................
ROUND 16 - March 12
v West Bendigo (a)
LAST SEASON FLASHBACK:
Finished - 4th
Record - 10-5-2, 1.03%
Batting rank - 1st
Bowling rank - 8th
............................................
Leading run-scorers:
441 - Matt Giri
420 - Corey Dickins
346 - Linton Colclough
303 - James
Pietromonaco
189 - Zane Keighran
134 - Brayden Coates
............................................
Leading wicket-takers:
28 - James Bailey
18 - Beau Roy-Clements
14 - Zane Keighran
12 - James
Pietromonaco
11 - Justin Slater
9 - Jeremy Hancock
............................................
Leading MVP points:
731 - Matt Giri
642 - James Bailey
610 - Corey Dickins
603 - James
Pietromonaco
559 - Zane Keighran
507 - Beau Roy-Clements
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS SINCE 2006:
v Axe Creek
Won: 11 Lost: 1
............................................
v California Gully
Won: 10 Lost: 3
............................................
v Emu Creek
Won: 7 Lost: 8
............................................
v Marong
Won: 12 Lost: 6
............................................
v Sedgwick
Won: 9 Lost: 7
............................................
v Spring Gully
Won: 8 Lost: 12
............................................
v United
Won: 6 Lost: 10
............................................
v West Bendigo
Won: 15 Lost: 2
MORE 2021-22 TEAM PREVIEWS:
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