CAPTAINS will have plenty to consider in the lead-up to Round 5 of the Sale-Maffra Cricket Association.
While temperatures are expected to hover around the mid-20s tomorrow, the rain of recent days could leave pitches damp enough to excite the seamers.
Sides will enter the first day of Round 5 with intentions of starting positively regardless of what greets them upon the obligatory inspection of the wicket.
THE in-form team meets the reigning premier.
Bundalaguah will host Collegians, in a bid to continue its solid start to season 2023/24.
The Bulls have won three games from three starts, and are coming off a commanding victory over Rosedale-Kilmany where they made the best part of 300 batting first.
Reigning premier Collegians has won its last two games, although it must be said their performances have been far from convincing.
Having lost a couple of key players from that premiership, a slightly new-look College has so far had to reshuffle the line-up to try and find a winning formula.
Usual opening batsman Zac Hurley slid down to the middle order in Round 3 in a possible bid to add more stability, while youngster Nathan Giove moved from six to first drop last round.
With Man of the Match from the Grand Final Tom Morrison still on the injury list, Collegians will surely be sweating on the all-rounder becoming available sooner rather than later.
His availability will strengthen up both departments, especially the ball, as Collegians only used four bowlers last week – generally an unsustainable approach for two-day cricket.
After sending down more than 20 overs last week, opening quick Nathan Whitford might be praying for a decent batting strip and for Hurley to call correctly at the toss in order to put his feet up.
If he doesn’t, and Collegians find themselves bowling, they will want to strike while the ball still has a chance to move through the air.
Bundalaguah openers Jason Langshaw and Lachlan Wrigglesworth can make life easier for the rest of the card by grinding out the first session, paving the way for Steve Spoljaric to come in and enjoy himself.
The Bulls look likely to bring Gayashan Munasinghe back into the 11, following some strategic match conditioning. The former Italian national team captain requested to play seconds last round in order to get more of a hit, and promptly scored 116.
As a Sri Lankan-born Italian, all will be hoping there is no Angelo Matthews-type situation at Col Wrigglesworth Oval tomorrow.
MAFFRA is facing a critical game against Rosedale-Kilmany.
While it is too early to be labelling games ‘must win’, the Eagles will be out to stabilise after suffering consecutive losses by big margins.
Maffra bowlers were taken apart a fortnight ago by Anthony Scott and his Yarram men, and unfortunately for them, they might be up against another Scott tomorrow.
Anthony’s brother Brad, although not as destructive with the bat, is just as effective, and will provide plenty for the Eagles to consider.
Brad top-scored with 38 last round for the Warriors, and could have his sights set on at least doubling that effort tomorrow at Cameron Sporting Complex.
The Eagles might look to reference their solid start with the bat last round, where Chris Lawrence and Ben Sly put on an opening stand of 88.
With Cameron Sporting Complex generally batter-friendly, Maffra could see no reason why a score near 300 isn’t possible.
Internally, the Eagles might feel as though they need plenty to bowl at, as without Nathan Magnuson and Daniel Bedggood now part of the set-up, it has possibly left them a little light on.
Spinner Ben Durrant will provide a handful when he is brought into the attack, as will skipper Josh Davis, although interestingly, he only bowled seven overs last week.
Granted it is only Round 5, the Eagles have perhaps been a touch underwhelming to start the season, which adds a discussion point on its own.
Any side would be more than happy to have a player of Davis’ calibre batting at six and Nathan Hibbins at seven, yet Maffra has yet to really put it all together by way of a commanding total.
Time is on their side however, and tomorrow looms as a great opportunity to get a decent score together.
IT’S time.
Shaun Wolmarans is set to make his long-awaited first grade debut for Sale.
The South African import has arrived in the country, and will get a first look at top grade Sale-Maffra cricket when the Swans travel to Briagolong.
Could you get a more Australian first experience playing bush cricket?
The younger brother of Sale teammate Garreth Wolmarans, Shaun is described in the Marco Jansen mould, and is expected to take the new ball this season.
The Swans enter this match fresh from a two-week bye, which carries with it an interesting subplot. While players should be fully fit, those who ordinarily would have welcomed the chance to get match fitness in the seconds weren’t able to following an opposition forfeit.
Somewhat ironically, Boisdale-Briagolong couldn’t get a team up, which led to a pretty farcical outcome where Shaun Wolmarans played fourth grade last weekend.
With all other grades in the middle of two dayers, the international recruit was only left with the lowest possible senior grade in which to play.
Understandably, he didn’t bowl (which could have been absolute carnage), but he did open the batting, whacking 26 from 24 balls, with 24 of those runs coming in boundaries.
Wolmarans also played for Gippsland Pride Under 21’s last Sunday, again amid some controversy as most people in cricket circles feel the competition should be about giving local players an opportunity to represent the region they call home.
Regardless, the Swans now have a plethora of new ball bowlers, with both Wolmarans, Hayden Glover and Ben Jones capable of taking the first over.
Time will tell whether this is a luxury or a curse, but for Boisdale-Briagolong, it is looking like there will be no easy runs.
The Saints however do have batsmen that have faced quality bowling plenty of times, and the likes of Adrian Burgiel, Dylan Bolton and Liam Hurst won’t factor in too much about the playing histories of the opposition.
To them, it will just be a matter of playing the ball, not the person behind the ball.
Boisdale-Briaglong has been more than competitive the last two rounds, and could see this game as the chance to secure the breakthrough it needs.
A Bohdi Walker century was arguably all that stopped the Saints defeating Stratford, while two runs was all that separated them and Collegians last week.
YARRAM is home for the second week in a row.
The Pelicans are hosting Stratford, making the trip south following a humbling defeat at the hands of Longford.
The Redbacks ran into a sublime innings from new Lizard Stefano Di Bartolomeo last week, who whacked 139 off 125 balls.
Yarram has a player of similar capability of its own in skipper Anthony Scott, and Stratford will want to see the back of him early.
If they don’t, there could be a Glenn Maxwell-style innings coming.
While it is clear Stratford will call on its ‘big three’ of Bohdi Walker, Jack Tatterson and Jack Rietschel to bowl bulk overs and occupy spots in the top half, the Redbacks will be looking for greater output from others to help out.
Veteran opener Chris Aurisch enters the match with some runs under his belt, scoring 34 and 47 not out across two innings last game.
While that 47 came in a fairly meaningless second dig when the game was over, there is still no substitute for time in the middle, and Stratford will need Aurisch to do more of the same when he strides out to open.
Cormac Hassett is still yet to come back into the team for the Redbacks, and officials will be monitoring his progress carefully.
LONGFORD has the bye.
