VSDCA: Taylors Lakes picks up Alex Deuchar, Trent Waring, Buddika Janith and Kaiden Jackson

The Lions are ready to roar in the VSDCA this summer after an injection of first-class and Premier Cricket talent.

Trent Waring bowling for Greenvale.

Taylors Lakes didn’t win a game last season and it stung.

The proud Lions immediately set about turning things around, launching a robust recruiting campaign.

They targeted quality, experienced players.

The results were spectacular, with four key signings committing.

First off, Taylors Lakes favourite son Trent Waring agreed to return to spearhead the bowling attack after 13 seasons with Premier Cricket outfit Greenvale Kangaroos Kangaroos.

Excitement levels continued to rise when the Lions secured Kingston Hawthorn paceman Alex Deuchar as captain-coach.

Alex Deuchar a bowling for Mt Waverley.

Then came the addition of first-class spinner Buddika Janith from North Dandenong in the Dandenong and District competition.

And Kingston Hawthorn First XI all-rounder Kaiden Jackson also came on board.

Taylors Lakes even recruited a Bollywood actor, Amardeep Sran, who is well known at the Lions as a premiership opening batter from the old North West Cricket Association days.

Taylors Lakes president Rob Arnold said the recruits should see a dramatic spike in performance.

“We should have won five games last year,” he said.

“But we didn’t and that was purely because we didn’t know how to win, because of inexperience.

“But I believe with the four experienced players we’ve picked up we should be very competitive and we’re focused on making finals.”

Luke Denny on the drive for Taylors Lakes. Picture: Hamish Blair

The UK-born Deuchar, who has been locked in as coach for the next two summers, captained Mt Waverley for four seasons and led its premiership team in 2015-16.

A Durham Cricket Academy graduate, he had two first-class games for the centre of excellence.

“He was seven years at Mt Waverley so he’s familiar with the Subbies,” Arnold said.

“He knows the lay of the land in Subbies and he’s two years wiser since he last played in the competition. He’s only 29 so I think he’s still to reach his prime.”

Arnold said Deuchar had already set high standards.

“As a coach he has been sensational to put it mildly,” Arnold said.

“He speaks well and gives direct instruction to the playing group.’’

Deuchar’s arrival gives the Lions an enviable trio of pace bowlers, with Waring and Hoa Lai coming off a golden season in which he grabbed 26 wickets at 12.27.

Waring was an integral part of Greenvale Kangaroos bowling attack. Overall he claimed 227 victims at 26.01 at the Kangaroos.

Waring will also serve as bowling coach at the Lions this season.

Buddika Janith is an off spinning allrounder who also played with Springvale Cricket Club in 2018/19 and 2019/20, winning the club championship in both seasons.

Prior to his three seasons in the DDCA, Jani played cricket in Sri Lanka with distinction, including two first-class games.

Taylors Lakes has also added depth throughout the grades with seven players from local clubs also joining the club.

Taylors Lakes’ best player Jarrod Wakeling, who was captain the past two seasons, will continue as the side’s number one spinner.

Last season’s senior coach Glenn “The General’’ Marr will be batting coach.

Taylors Lakes’ main losses are Luke Jones, Ryan Treloar and Amit Padwal.