MPCA: Batting boost for Mt Eliza in Provincial

The Mounties are set to regain a first-class batsman for the MPCA Provincial season. And they’ve come up with a splendid way to honour the memory of a club legend.

Rashmika Opatha batting for Mt Eliza in 2019. Picture:Andy Brownbill

Mt Eliza hopes to regain former Sri Lankan first-class batter Rashmika Opatha from a knee injury around Christmas time.

The 24-year-old slipped on a sprinkler at training before Round 1 last season and missed the entire season, undergoing a knee reconstruction.

Mt Eliza skipper Tom Baron said his class and experience would be a welcome boost for the Mounties.

“He’s a gun,” Baron said.

“He’d be be in the top handful of batters in the comp when he’s going.

“Some of the shots he played when he played that year (in 2019-20) for us, I mean he hit Foony (Matt Foon) for six back over his head first ball.

“He on-drove Dale Irving for four at Baxter before they did the ground up. He’s got beautiful timing.”

John Lloyd-Williams (far left) was Mt Eliza's team manager for more than two decades.

Mt Eliza will honour the memory of long-serving team manager John Lloyd-Williams by having his initials on their playing shirts this season.

JLW will be printed under the club’s crest on the shirt. Affectionately known as “Postie’’, Lloyd-Williams died in July, aged 79.

“It’s something I pushed hard for,” Baron said.

“Everyone was straight on board which is good.

“Mate, he gave 20 odd years helping to manage the First XI. That’s a massive effort.

“Blokes like that don’t come around too often.”

Mt Eliza will have its first-ever non-playing senior coach this season with Trevor Lovitt taking the reins.

Lovitt played cricket with Melbourne and also had coaching roles at Springvale and Coomoora in the Dandenong District association.

He is also a former Frankston Dolphins football assistant coach.

Lovitt is familiar with the Mt Eliza cricketers, having watched his stepson Sam Glenn play with the Mounties last season.

“He came down every game last year and was really good for me, being a skipper,” Baron said.

“He just talks the whole time to you, knows his cricket really well. He’s something our club needed.

“I think it’s the first time ever we’ve had a non-playing coach at the club.

“He’s a cracking bloke to have around the group. He’s always positive with us.”