MPCA: Recruits bolster Ballam Park ahead of its return to Sub District ranks
A rejuvenated Knights are ready to reclaim their spot in the Subbies competition.
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The Knights are ready for battle.
A year after facing an uncertain future, a rejuvenated Ballam Park Cricket Club will return to MPCA Sub District ranks in 2019-20, with a new coach and a former first-class player among a raft of recruits.
The Knights were struggling to put together a First XI side heading into last season and made the crunch decision to drop out of Subbies and play their First XI in A1 grade.
It’s been a year of stabilisation for Ballam Park, which has been able to regain players, including Zach Peddersen who has been appointed club coach.
“They approached me as they were pretty close to folding so I was keen to move my work stuff around to take it on and re-build the place,” Peddersen said.
Peddersen got to work, re-signing Knights key player Zac Clements and recruiting Matt Eager and Brad Jones from Somerville.
Then came the big signing of 29-year-old Sri Lankan Pradeep de Silva, a top-order batsman and handy bowler who played three first-class games as a teenager.
“And we are really close to getting a few ex-players back and a couple of other new recruits,” Peddersen said.
Ballam Park has also secured former Melbourne cricketer Luke Mulder as assistant coach.
Peddersen said it’s an exciting time for the once mighty Knights.
“There’s an opportunity here to do it our way,” he said.
“It’s been a pretty good response to be honest. I think a lot of guys who were going to go are staying, which is good.”
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Peddersen said Ballam Park would field its first and second XIs in Sub District and hoped the club could field four senior sides in total.
Knights pre-season training hits off at Saxon Sports on Thursday, August 8 and Peddersen welcomes new players. Details: 0400 026 912.
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