Vic Super Slam: Kaushal Silva and Nuwan Kulasekara boost Greenvale Kangaroos
Greenvale’s Vic Super Slam Twenty20 campaign is being spearheaded by two Sri Lankans, who are providing invaluable guidance for a young team.
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Two international players are spearheading Greenvale Kangaroos’ Vic Super Slam campaign.
Sri Lanka pair Kaushal Silva, who has taken the coaching reins at the Kangaroos, and Nuwan Kulasekara will be available for the full Twenty20 tournament in a significant shot in the arm for the club.
Top-order batsman Silva has played 36 Tests, his last appearance coming against England in November last year, and harbours ambitions to represent Sri Lanka again.
Paceman Kulasekara is plying his trade with Mordialloc in the Cricket Southern Bayside competition after retiring from professional cricket. The 37-year-old represented Sri Lanka 263 times across the three formats, collecting 313 wickets.
Michael Stretton, who crossed to Greenvale from NSW Premier Cricket powerhouse Bankstown over the off-season, also brings valuable experience.
Stretton is captain of the Kangaroos’ Premier Cricket First XI and Vic Super Slam teams.
“Good teams play intelligent cricket, so the more we can build knowledge, that will assist in our development,” Greenvale director of cricket Peter Di Venuto said.
“Having those two guys in the side brings experience in all sorts of different situations.
“When you’ve got three players with experience who can help educate, teach and create opportunity, (it’s beneficial).”
While the Kangaroos have struggled to taste regular wins during their formative years as a Premier Cricket club, they boast a strong Super Slam squad.
They suffered a four-run loss to Geelong in the opening game, with Kulasekara claiming 2-29 from four overs.
Greenvale then raced to 1-145 from 16.4 overs against Northcote, with Silva crunching an unbeaten 77 from 49 balls, before the fixture was abandoned because of rain.
The Kangaroos are set to host Melbourne on Wednesday in Round 3.
“It’s nothing to do with pace – it’s learning how to move the ball, hitting the right areas and having that knowledge of what to do and why,” Di Venuto said of Kulasekara’s impact.
Greenvale’s fast-bowling depth has been severely tested through the opening rounds of the Premier Cricket season, with Liam Fitzsimmons (hamstring), Trent Waring (calf), Kyle Adams (collarbone) battling injuries.
On the positive side, Sean McNicholl has performed impressively with the ball after spending most of last summer in the Second XI.
“His work ethic is unquestionable and he deserves every reward that he gets,” Di Venuto said.
“He’s bowled well in most games against some very good players.
“I think he’s had a really good start to the season.”
Silva (133 against Kingston Hawthorn in Round 3) and Stretton (75 against Geelong in Round 4) have also fired with the bat.
“Across the club, there’s been more wins to start the season than in previous years. We certainly have increased the depth,” Di Venuto said.
“We’ve had a pretty tough draw, in terms of playing some of the better clubs with strength and depth in St Kilda, Essendon and Geelong within the first four rounds.
“But the fact we’ve come away with some wins in the lower XIs is a good thing.”