Premier Cricket 2019-20: Prahran’s pace attack key to success
Prahran has enjoyed a red-hot start to the Premier Cricket season and the club is set to the bolstered by the addition of a gun paceman just before the Christmas break
Inner East
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Prahran boasts significant firepower with the ball this summer as it chases its first Premier Cricket finals appearance since 2015-16.
Former Tasmanian paceman Andrew Perrin, who arrived from Fitzroy Doncaster over the break, is spearheading the True Blues’ attack with aplomb, while Englishman Sam Cook is set to return in early December.
The thought of Perrin, Cook, Matt Wilcox and potentially Victorian squad member Will Sutherland charging in at opposition batsmen later in the season would be a salivating prospect for Prahran supporters.
Perrin collected 50 wickets at 10.62 for Fitzroy Doncaster four seasons ago, securing a contract with Tasmania.
He returned to the Lions in 2018-19, but he finished with just eight wickets as back and side strain setbacks took their toll.
But Perrin appears to have rediscovered some of his best form, grabbing nine wickets at 12.8 apiece in the opening four rounds and dismantling opposition batting line-ups, while Wilcox has eight to his name.
Prahran skipper Jake Hancock said his former state teammate had fitted in “seamlessly”.
“He’s bowling as well as I’ve ever seen him bowl,” Hancock said of Perrin.
“He’s got a better understanding of his body, which I think has been a bit of a learning curve for him after going into a professional environment and then coming out.
“I think he’s looking really good at the moment.”
Cook has been in red-hot form for Essex in England’s County Championship and has 87 wickets from 29 first-class matches.
The 22-year-old grabbed 18 wickets in five games at 13.7 apiece for the True Blues last season.
Prahran is hopeful Cook will be available for finals, should it qualify.
“We’re trying to push to get him to play finals as well, and he really wants to because he loved his time at the club last year, but it’s just about his availability with his county team and what they will allow him to do,” Hancock said.
“That (pace attack) was something we identified last year as an area we needed to improve.
“We’ve recruited hard and got some players who we think can really help us not only make finals, but have a deep run and hopefully win the league, which is our goal for this year.”
Prahran has also added highly-regarded 20-year-old Yorkshire batsman Tom Loten and spinner Yasiru Herath, who has crossed from Kingston Hawthorn.
Former captain Nathan McNally is the only notable departure, with Hancock praising the club’s senior players for their efforts during pre-season.
He is also excited about what promising youngsters Lachlan Bangs and James Billington could deliver.
Billington has enjoyed a flying start to the season, posting contributions of 26, 96, 80 and 87 among 289 runs at 72.3
“I think they’re the real future of our club,” Hancock said.
“They’re very enthusiastic. It’s always exciting to see those players on the park.”
Prahran (250) recorded a draw against Footscray (6-68) on Saturday after rain intervened.
But the True Blues (8-270) enjoyed an easy win over Northcote (206) on Sunday, leaving them in second spot, equal on points with ladder-leader Essendon.