Moorabbin gains new nets, retains overseas players

After having to go indoors last season, the Binners are ready to train the house down. And with continuity they look set for a promising 2019-20 season.

Moorabbin’s biggest gain for the 2019-20 Sub-District season is not a player, but new nets.

Last season the Binners had to train at an indoor centre while work was underway on a five-bay training facility at their Moorleigh Community Village ground in Bentleigh East.

“It was pretty hopeless,’’ club administrator and life member Alan Marion said.

“Training indoors with short run-ups isn’t conducive to good practice, and it cost us a lot of money as well.’’

But the nets have been completed and Marion said the club was chuffed with the result.

They will be well used: Moorabbin has five senior XIs, an All Abilities team and a string of junior sides, with many of the under-age players pushing into senior ranks.

A dismal 2017-18 prompted speculation about the Binners’ future in Sub-District cricket.

However, they showed improvement under new captain-coach Romain Grenville last season, gaining three wins and being unlucky to not pick up at least two more.

The Fourth XI made the finals, showing progress was made in all grades.

Alan Marion looking over Moorabbin’s new training facility.

Grenville is returning, as per his two-year contract, but Marion said the club hoped he would be around for much longer.

He said Grenville’s knowledge of and passion for cricket was exceptional, and he had accepted the challenge of lifting Moorabbin up the ladder.

“He wants to win, and that’s what we needed,’’ he said.

“The other thing I like about him is his willingness to give the young fellows a go.’’

Grenville’s 397 runs at the top of the order saw Moorabbin away safely in most matches.

Overseas players Karl Carver (UK) and Vishva Wijeratne (Sri Lankan) also gave the Binners excellent service and are coming back for second seasons.

Carver, 23, captured 23 wickets with his left-arm spin and made 373 runs.

Wijeratne topped the run chart with 412 at 37.5.

Marion said the return of the first-class pair brought stability to the side.

Former Caulfield paceman and New Zealand first-class player Amandeep Singh is a potential recruit.

Marion — who has a 40-year association with the Binners, played in two First XI premierships and kept wickets to legendary West Indies paceman Malcolm Marshall during his stint in Subbies — is particularly bullish about the junior program.

Moorabbin will have Under 12, 15 and 16 teams, two Under 15 and Under 17 Sunday sides.

“All up we’ve got close to 100 boys playing in our juniors, and out of those 15 to 20 will also play in our seniors, fourths, thirds, seconds and maybe even firsts,’’ he said.

*Moorabbin already has its first premiership for 2019, winning the Mid-Year Cricket Association premiership.

*The Binners need a club umpire for 2019-20, a paid position.