Premier Cricket 2019-20: Travis Dean hits century for Footscray
Travis Dean hammered a century in Footcray’s Premier Cricket triumph on Sunday, just two days after he was dropped from Victoria’s Sheffield Shield side.
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Travis Dean sent a timely reminder to state selectors with a classy century for Footscray in Premier Cricket on Sunday.
Dropped from Victoria’s Sheffield Shield squad after returning scores of eight and one in his first appearance of the season, Dean plundered 101 from 120 balls in the Dogs’ one-day triumph over Camberwell Magpies.
The classy right-hander, who has six first-class centuries to his name, hit 10 boundaries during his stay as Footscray piled on 8-261.
The total proved too much for the Magpies, who were bowled out for 205 with seven balls remaining.
“It was great to see him back in the runs and it was never going to be too far away with a player of that quality,” Dogs coach Allan Wise said of Dean.
“His attitude towards club cricket is second to none with regards to guys I’ve worked with.
“He always comes back, he’s always available for training when he can and comes down and helps out.
“He’s got a lot of close friends at the club so he just fits in really seamlessly, irrespective of whether he’s in the middle of playing for Victoria or whether he’s out of the side like he is at the moment.
“He’s such a quiet achiever and a class player.
“I’m sure another opportunity for him won’t be too far away.
“He would have been disappointed losing his spot, but that’s just a great response.”
Dan Sartori also hit 58 at the top of the order, his second-half-century of the season, and shared a 93-run stand with Dean for the second wicket.
Matthew Underwood compiled 42 from 44 balls at No. 4, including two sixes, and Wise said the talented left-hander had worked hard to expand his game for the 50-over format.
Jordan Buckingham spearheaded the charge with the ball, removing the Magpies’ top-three batsman and finishing with 3-31 from 10 overs.
Dean Russ (2-21) and Hamish Winter-Irving (2-50) also made impressive contributions for the home side.
“It’s been a key area for us to do more damage with the new ball in white-ball cricket and hopefully that can translate into red-ball cricket, where it’s even more important,” Wise said.
“He (Buckingham) has been working hard with our discussions around that, so it was great for him to get a couple up front. It was a solid performance across the board.
“It’s starting to come together slowly as a balanced attack we hope can be really competitive in most games.
“Most of the guys have started the season better than last year – and that’s both individually and as a team – so they’re only going to take more and more confidence from that. I think we’ll be better for it.
“But we haven’t bowled a ball in red-ball cricket yet, and I know blokes are jumping out of their skin to do that.”
On the negative side, star leg-spinner James Muirhead is set to miss about two months after injuring his hamstring at training last week.
Victoria fast bowler Jake Reed is also carrying “some niggles” but is set to return for Footscray’s two-day clash against Essendon, starting November 30.
The Dogs, who sit in seventh spot on the table, will next tackle Northcote at Merv Hughes Oval.