Premier Cricket: Frankston Peninsula adds experience ahead of 2021-22

Coach Paul Boraston says an influx of talented recruits will make the Heat a worthy competitor in Premier Cricket this season.

Mordialloc opener Brendan Morris is trying his luck at Frankston Peninsula. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Cricket is a simple game, often over complicated by players and coaches.

Score more than the opposition, and win.

Frankston Peninsula will be looking to do exactly that in every game this season.

Heat coach Paul Boraston is quietly confident of his club’s chances, believing an influx of talented and experienced recruits will make Frankston a worthy competitor in all four grades.

And he wants his batters to lead the way in the First XI.

“Scoring 200 was a tough ask for us (last season) and you’re not going to win too many games not doing that,” Boraston said.

The Heat’s firsts won one game and had two ties last season.

Gloveman Mackenzie Gardner, who played 16 games in the ones last season, has moved on, returning to his home club Seaford Tigers.

All-rounder Harrison Barnes, who made 39 in the opening game last season, has crossed to University.

Dandenong keeper Jacques Augustin will take the gloves for the Heat.

Frankston’s recruits are headlined by experienced James Nanopoulos (Dandenong), Jacques Augustin (Dandenong) and Akshay Kodoth (Camberwell Magpies), the trio sure to help the Heat when the heat is on.

“We were unlucky at times last year but we didn’t play good cricket at other times as well,” Boraston said.

“With the added experience we think we’ll win those games that we should have won.”

Nanopoulos will captain Frankston, allowing young gun Brodie Symons to concentrate on establishing himself as one of the competition’s leading all-rounders.

The Heat have also gained a crop of talented players who will add depth and push for First XI selection.

Tej Gandhi has joined Frankston.

Dandenong top order batter Mahdee Islam has come across in search of more opportunities.

Another quality recruit is highly rated Parkdale all-rounder Tej Gandhi, who has been a consistent run scorer and wicket taker with his left-arm off-spin in Cricket Southern Bayside.

Carnegie all-rounder Saumil Patel, who blazed 96 off 51 balls last season against a Beaumaris bowling attack featuring Ryder medallist James Miller, is a good inclusion.

Mordialloc premiership opener Brendan Morris, who belted 43 in the CSB Division 1 grand final last season, will test himself at the higher level.

All-rounder Vinu Mohotty, a consistent performer with McKinnon and Endeavour Hills, has also joined the Heat.

NT Strike League wicket keeper Daniel Mylius. Pic: Katrina Bridgeford

Darwin cricketer Daniel Mylius looms as an interesting recruit. A wicketkeeper-batter, he played with Symons and Luke Gandy in a premiership at Southern Districts over winter and was named in the NT team of the year.

He’s also played with Woodville in South Australia.

MPCA players Patrick Nagel (Rosebud), Jarryd Parker (Somerville), Harry Wallace (Old Peninsula), Matt Kennedy (Delacombe Park) and Nick Taranto (Tyabb) are also set to make their mark at the Heat.

Kiefer Peries is back at the club from Clyde in the West Gippsland comp.

Frankston Peninsula will ramp up its preparations with internal practice matches at Jubilee Park this weekend and then a full-scale practice game against Northcote the following weekend.

The Heat host Melbourne in Round 1 on November 13 and visit Northcote in Round 2.