VTCA 2020-21: Sunshine chasing fourth consecutive premiership
After languishing in the VSDCA, Sunshine switched to the VTCA ahead of the 2016-17 summer. The Crows have since enjoyed an extraordinary run, but president Michael Bezzina says things could have been very different if they did not make the move.
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Sunshine’s decision to switch competitions four years ago appears a masterstroke.
After struggling for several seasons in the Subbies, the Crows pulled up stumps and made the move to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.
They started in Division 4 in 2016-17, advancing to the semi-finals.
Sunshine has since claimed three consecutive premierships and is preparing to contest the VTCA’s new-look 12-team Division 1 competition this season.
It is a run of success the Crows could only dream of when they were battling for wins in the VSDCA.
“The bottom line is, if we didn’t do what we did, the club probably wouldn’t be around,” president Michael Bezzina said.
“That’s nothing against anyone (involved) in the past, we just couldn’t compete.
“It’s given the club a chance to rebuild from the ground up.
“We’re down to three senior sides, but in saying that we can dictate our own terms now. We’ve got players who want to come to our club. The stigma of ‘easybeats’ is no more.
“Even though we’re coming up every year, we seem to be the team to beat. I don’t think we’ll be the team to beat this season, but I think we’ll be right up there.”
While Sunshine is acutely aware it will face several difficult opponents in Division 1, expectations are high.
A season of one-day fixtures could play in its favour and the club believes it is capable of earning promotion to the top-flight Senior Division competition in coming years.
“Our first year in the VTCA, the goal was to make finals, which we did. Then we set a five-year plan to win it the next year and then finals again (in Division 2) … and we’ve gone one better,” Bezzina said.
“We’re not going to go in cocky and say we’ve got it in the bag. We definitely don’t.
“But if things go our way … anything can happen in one-dayers.”
A settled playing group has been vital in the Crows’ run of premierships.
The bulk of the group has stayed put, but Ashen Perera (15 wickets at 20.1 in 2019-20) has departed, while there is a question mark over the availability of Asela Rangana Dasanayaka Aluthge (393 runs and 24 wickets).
On the plus side, Ravindu Dilshan and Lihan Dulshan have arrived from St Albans.
Spinner Amal Ranawaka Arachchige, who snared 21 wickets in the club’s last season in the VSDCA in 2015-16, is also a chance to return after Christmas.
“He’s in Tasmania and is looking back to come and play for us. That’s a win for us,” Bezzina said.
“I think we’re still looking for a middle-order or top-order batsman.”
Bezzina said captain-coach Troy Stone (743 runs last season), Charith Fernando (288 runs and 18 wickets) and Sam Magnano (321 runs) would be crucial.
The experienced Stone is coming off a golden season during which he hammered three tons and four half-centuries in Division 2.
He racked up a massive 915 runs, including Twenty20 fixtures.
“There were times he could have gone other places and he’s stuck with the club,” Bezzina said of Stone.
“He’s done a fantastic job as far as I’m concerned.
“If Troy gets off to a good start and puts pressure on them early, the other teams seem to crumble a little bit more.”
Bezzina said “anywhere in the top four or just outside” would be a good result for Sunshine this season.
He also backed the VTCA’s decision to introduce a best-of-three grand final series as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Crows are scheduled to face Glenroy in Round 1 on November 21.
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