Who is the DDBBL’s new team?

New team signs up for DDBBL

Liebke Lions batsman Darren Koch plays away a delivery during last season’s Darling Downs Bush Bash League. The Lions will be replaced by the RobScan Knight Riders in next season’s competition.

CRICKET : Last season they were the team that “could’ve been”.

Now the RobScan Knight Riders are the Darling Downs Bush Bash League’s latest addition – replacing the Liebke Lions.

“It didn’t take long to fill the spot,” DDBBL co-ordinator Kent Reimers said.

“We went back to the teams that missed out last season and they (Robertson Scannell) were one of them.

“They only missed out on a spot by 45 minutes last time so they were keen to get on board.”

With the benefit of a season on the sidelines, the Knight Riders hope to play off the front foot when the new season gets under way.

“We were keen to join last year but missed our opportunity,” Robertson Scannell director John Littleproud said.

“I watched a bit of it (the DDBBL) and thought the standard was pretty good.

“It’s a great initiative that breathed new life into cricket in the region.

“We still have the local Twenty20 competition which is important but the DDBBL bought some quality players in as well.

“It set the bar a little higher and you get better as a player when you’re playing against better opposition.”

Design work is already under way on the Knight Riders playing strip, but there is one thing Littleproud is not looking forward to at this stage.

“The plan is to take a bit of casual, laid back attitude into the season,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say I’m looking forward to the draft.

“All that thinking on the fly it looks a bit stressful to be honest.

“The key is to make sure you have a good blend of youth and experience.”

Reimers. however, believes the Knight Riders will be well positioned ahead of the draft.

“They say they’ll be casual but they do have a lot cricketing experience and knowledge,” he said.

“And objectively I think they will have learned a lot from watching last season.

“Depth is the most important thing, there were some very good players involved last season, but you can’t rely on a just a few of them to be up every game.”

Interest in the DDBBL has increased since the success of its debut season, but the focus will remain the same.

“There’s a lot of interest from players locally and other areas,” Reimers said.

“Our primary objective remains the same though and that is to give locals more exposure to good quality cricket.

“Players like Warwick’s John Cleary prove you can pick up a gem anywhere.”

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