MPCA 2019-20: Baxter boosts bowling stocks while Pines adds more class to its list
There have been more significant player movements ahead of the 2019-20 MPCA season.
South East
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BAXTER has given its bowling stocks a timely boost, securing promising young Sorrento seamer Bobby Parslow.
Parslow burst onto the Provincial scene a few years ago when he captured five wickets on debut and he helped Sorrento to the grand final last season.
At Baxter he will be an ideal replacement for new ball bowler Ben Brittain, who has gone to captain Dromana.
PINERS ADD TO PACE ATTACK
Already bursting with young talent, Pines is likely to toss the new ball to ex-Frankston Peninsula speedster Billy Humphrey at some stage this season.
The Piners are hoping Billy — a Pines product — will play with them for a few games.
“Jackson Mockett misses a couple of games so Billy is going to fill in for us for a couple of games,’’ Pines coach Paul Bradley said.
Bradley said another Heat player, Billy Kennedy, had also joined Pines.
STAR SPINNER AT SORRAS
Sorrento has landed a top-notch recruit.
Sri Lankan Ravindra Palleguruge is a left-arm spinner who has played 76 first-class games, with best bowling of 8-92.
Standing 165cm (5ft5 in the old money), he’s a only small but he will make a big impact at the Sharks.
PERERA AN EAGLE
More cricket moves…
Moorooduc batsman Madushanka Perera will pad up for Somerville this season, strengthening an Eagles top order that already boasts Leigh Lowry, Brad McDonald and Brenton Alp.
Somerville players know of Madu’s ability; he scored a match-winning 61 against them last season.
ED THE MAIN MAN
Main Ridge will go into the season without a coach.
Senior Cougars players are sharing the role, with The Greek Bradman, Billy Sakalis, especially doing a great job.
But Main Ridge does have a new captain, stalwart batsman Ed Aarons, who plans to lead from the front.
BROTHERS ON MOVE
A new innings for Balnarring brothers Mitchell and Nathan Kleinig.
They will pad up in the West Gippsland comp with Devon Meadows, coached by ex-Tyabb player Joel Wylie.
REDS RALLY
Mt Martha is determined to prove the doubters wrong this season.
The Reds have lost a raft of senior players but the show must go on and a loyal, core group have will steer the ship.
Mt Martha will be led by a panel of specialist coaches: Simon Street (batting/keeping), Tom Angelico (fielding/skills development), Mike Ronchi (spin), Jason Jacoby (batting/keeping), Curtis Stone (strength and fitness/bowling) and Rhys Whitling (pace bowling).
The Reds First XI will be led by Whitling spearheading the attack with Brett Wilkinson and Max McKenzie, along the evergreen Curtis Stone in support and relying on the Bendle brothers Kade and Kyle and the experienced Street to guide the batting at the top order.
WOMEN’S CRICKET
Still at Mt Martha and its senior women’s team is also looking forward to a big season.
The side, which competes in the top grade of Cricket Victoria’s Women’s Community Cricket Competition, is looking for recruits (women and girls).
NICK IS THE MANN
Steve Smith wasn’t the only Australian piling on the runs in England in recent months.
Frankston Peninsula and former Somerville batsman Nick Mann, 22, won the Derbyshire County Cricket League batting award while playing with Belper Meadows.
Nick really was the man after scoring 1542 runs, at 102.80, including four centuries.
Ex-Heat players Paul Borrington and Tom Wood were second and third respectively in the runs tally.
RARE EVENT
Standby for a rare event this coming cricket season.
Cricket will be played on February 29 – yep, it’s a leap year. And this time around, the 29th is a Saturday.
According to local historian Simon Fiedler, the Mornington Peninsula comp has only ever played on Feb 29 on three previous occasions – in 1936, 1964 and 1992.
Portsea and Bittern both scored wins in NPCA Round 9, 1936.
SPINNER SIMON
Simon Goosey reckons his best days as a leg spin bowler are ahead.
The Goose has switched cricket clubs ahead of the new season, joining Mornington from Pines.
“I’ll be their T20 bowler, mate,” he enthused.
“I’m a competitor.”
Goosey, who took 6-31 in a game last season, describes himself as a “quicker” leg spinner who is “very economical“.
Oh, and batsmen beware. The Goose has a deadly wrong ‘un.
RYAN ON THE MEND
Seaford cricket skipper Ryan McQueen has had a very limited pre-season preparation due to a double hernia operation.
“Recovery hasn’t been pleasant,” Ryan said.
“I hope to pick up a bat in the next week.”
CLEARANCES GRANTED AS PLAYERS CHANGE MPCA CLUBS
WILL CROWDER RETURNS TO PENINSULA OLD BOYS
POT SHOTS: MPCA PLAYER MOVEMENTS
JUNIOR CRICKET
To celebrate the cricket achievements of the men’s and women’s Australian teams in the Ashes, Cricket Victoria visited primary schools across the Mornington Peninsula as part of Cricket Victoria’s Play Cricket launch.
Ten schools were visited with kids having a go in the bowling tunnel, meeting the Melbourne Stars mascot Starman, receiving some giveaways and taking part in some fun and fast cricket skills.
The Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades visited over 100 hundred schools across Victoria this month to promote cricket participation and get kids excited about the upcoming Big Bash 2019-20 season.
Want to play? Head to playcricket.com.au to find your nearest club to join in the fun, exciting and action packed programs and competitions.