Premier Cricket: Melbourne looks to hit back after two modest seasons
With Cameron White as captain and a stronger bowling attack, the Demons are out to get back into finals reckoning.
Inner South
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You won’t hear any big or bold predictions from Melbourne coach Adam Dale ahead of Round 1 of Premier Cricket.
What you will hear are statements like “heads down and training hard’’, “a lot of work to do’’, “letting our actions speak for themselves’’.
As former Test swing bowler Dale points out, the Demons have little to spruik about given they’ve missed the finals in the past two seasons.
What they could trumpet in the off-season was the appointment of Cameron White as captain.
The much-honoured former Victorian and Australian T20 skipper will lead the Demons before and after his Big Bash League engagements with Adelaide Strikers.
“He’s world-class as a player and captain … he’s got a wonderful record and we’re very lucky to have him involved,’’ Dale said.
“He’s been terrific in the pre-season, so generous with his knowledge and time. The group have really responded to him.’’
White has played only sparingly for Melbourne since joining the club from Monash Tigers in 2016-17, and it can be safely said he will hit a load of runs for the Dees.
But, even as its state players come and go, batting is rarely a problem for Melbourne, with the likes of Matt Brown, Meyrick Buchanan, Blake Thomson and, last season, Charles Lill combining to put up tall totals.
Bowling has been a soft — and, with injuries, often a sore — spot for the Dees, its their attack regularly struggling to dismiss teams.
Spinner Sean Sturrock topped the wicket aggregate last season with 21.
Hopefully for the Demons and indeed Victorian cricket, paceman Jackson Koop is over the injuries that have checked his career as a fast bowler and middle-order batsman.
Dale also believes young quickie Wilson McGillivray is ready to do good things.
“Unfortunately his body has let him down at times … it happens with players at certain ages and certain stages of their development and progress,’’ Dale noted.
“Hopefully ‘Koopy’ is through that. We saw signs of how good a player he can be with bat and ball last season. He’s set himself up to have a strong season. He’s a really class player.’’
Dale also believes young quickie Wilson McGillivray is ready to do good things.
The recruitment of Dandenong fast bowler Adam McMaster was a boost to the bowling stocks in the off-season.
The bustling right-armer played 40 matches for the Panthers from 2014-15 to 2017-18, capturing 72 wickets at 24.43, with a best of 5-60.
McMaster represented the Victorian Under 19 team at the 2015-16 national championships and was its best bowler, taking 15 wickets at 20.
Dale is also pleased with the progress of batsman Campbell Kellaway and right-arm swing bowler and accomplished batsman Fergus O’Neill.
The Demons have five players involved in the Under 17 national championships: Kellaway, Henry Brown (brother of Matt), Marcus Jackman, Darcy Munro and Nick Pastras.
Dale is excited about having such a talented young group.