Shires Cricket Round 5: Team of the Year through third of season

We’re more than a third of the way through the Sydney Shires Cricket competition. Here’s our team of the season so far.

The completion of round five of Sydney Shires Cricket means we’re more than a third of the way through the 2020/21 season.

Round five of the Sydney Shires Cricket first-grade competition is done and dusted, meaning we’re more than a third through the 2020/21 in season.

With that in mind, here’s NewsLocal’s selections for the Sydney Shires Cricket Team of the Year … So Far.

Burwood is undefeated through the first five rounds of Sydney Shires Cricket, while last year’s premiers Auburn (in green) are a win out of the top six.

1. Cosikan Beadle (Mount Pritchard-Southern Districts)

Cosikan Beadle has only had two chances with the bat due to weather and cancellations, but he’s already the competition’s highest run scorer.

After an unbeaten 118 against the high-flying Burwood Briars in round four, Beadle followed it up with another 100 against North West Sydney this weekend.

He’s scored 37 more runs than anyone else in the competition and has a ridiculous average of 218.

2. Paul Donovan (Strathfield)

Paul Donovan was a popular name when we asked the clubs who would top the run-scoring tally this season, and he hasn’t disappointed in the first five rounds.

A high score of 75 against Balmain South-Sydney in round four, and another 65 against Georges River in round three, Donovan is cruising with an average of 53 from three innings so far this season.

3. Damian Naughton (Lane Cove)

Lane Cove’s captain started the season strong by scoring a season-high 74 against Lindfield, and has been steadily amassing runs since then.

He’s only batted four times this season after not getting to the crease against Pennant Hills, and has 181 runs at an average of 45.25.

Only one player has hit more boundaries than Naughton so far this season.

4. Henry Chapman (Lindfield)

Henry Chapman is one run off having an almost perfect start to the 2020/21 season, but has still done more than enough to make this team.

Chapman would have been no chance of selection after three rounds after scores of nine, seven, and three, but has roared up the run-scorers list over the past fortnight.

He hit a solid 56 against Pennant Hills in round four before being run out just one run shy of a maiden century against Warringah in round five.

His 174 runs are equal fourth best in the competition, and he’s scoring at a healthy average of 58.

Epping (blue and red) are also undefeated through five rounds, two points ahead of Burwood thanks to bonus points.

5. Ben Maher (Roseville)

Ben Maher may be having the best all-round batting season in the competition so far this summer.

He’s scoring consistently with an average of 58, he’s hit the third most boundaries in the competition, and he’s amassed two half centuries in four innings.

Maher’s most recent outing was a score of five against Epping in round four, so he’ll be looking for a rebound next weekend.

6. Brenton Wright (Burwood)

If Ben Maher can claim to have the best batting season so far, it’s hard to argue that Brenton Wright hasn’t had the best overall season in the competition.

Burwood’s all-rounder has warmed into his batting this season with scores of 29 and 30 before exploding to an unbeaten 104 against Balmain South Sydney in round five.

His 176 runs are enough for third best in the competition, and he’s taken eight wickets to go along with it at an average of 16.75

7. Will Epsom (Epping)

Wicketkeeper was the hardest position to select for this team, so we decided to focus heavily on how active each keeper was on the field.

Epping’s Will Epsom is yet to impress with the bat, but his work on the field so far this season has been exemplary.

Epsom has been involved in 11 dismissals this season for the Bulls, three more than the next best wicketkeeper.

Lane Cove’s Ravi Ravi is the leading wicket-taker in first grade so far this season with 12.

8. Ravi Ravi (Lane Cove)

Ravi Ravi has led the attack in Lane Cove with aplomb this season, taking a competition-high 12 wickets at a fantastic average of 11.67.

He’s averaging one maiden for every four overs he bowls, and his 5/16 against Pennant Hills in round two remains the best bowling figures in the competition to date.

Ravi also proved he’s handy with a bat in round three against Epping when he scored 34 in a losing side.

9. William Greenland (Warringah)

Warringah’s Will Greenland has been the most effective spin bowler so far this season with 11 wickets at an average of 19.09.

Eight of those wickets came in a two-week stretch against Pennant Hills and Lane Cove in rounds three and four, but Greenland missed an opportunity to go to the top of the wicket-takers list with a wicketless showing against Lindfield in round five.

The all-rounder has struggled with the bat thus far, but his bowling has been good enough to make this squad.

10. Daniel Lenehan (Roseville)

Daniel Lenehan has only taken seven wickets this season, but his amazing economy sees him make this team.

Lenehan has an economy rate of 3.05 from his 50 overs this season, including eight maidens.

His best figures of the season are 4/42 against Pennant Hills in round one, and hasn’t gone for more than 33 runs in any of his other outings this season.

11. Danish Ahmed (Epping)

Nobody has bowled more overs this season than Danish Ahmed, and nobody has been more economical with the ball.

Ahmed has taken 10 wickets so far this season at an average of 11.70, helped by a stingy 2.39 economy rate.

He has season-best figures of 5/43, and has bowled 13 maidens so far this season.