Subbies Cricket: Bird-Baxter new-ball combination puts Ormond on the attack

And the Monders have bolstered their batting with a two-time double century-maker from the VTCA.

The left-arm threat for batsmen when they meet Ormond will be intensified in 2019-20.

Rodney Bird has carried the Monders’ attack for six seasons, and done it wonderfully well.

Next season he’ll be joined by fellow left-armer Blade Baxter, giving Ormond arguably the best new-ball pairing in Subbies.

Last season Baxter took 30 wickets at 19.0 for Premier club Monash Tigers, including a best of 7-20 and match figures of 10-45 against Greenvale Kangaroos.

It was his only season for the Tigers, whom he joined from St Kilda.

Baxter played 79 First XI matches, collecting 130 wickets at 23.20 and chipping in with 489 runs at 18.80.

He made his debut for the Saints in 2012-13.

As for Bird, he is closer to 40 than 30, but collected 31 wickets last season.

Ormond coach Murray Ring said the Bird-Baxter combination would be “very dangerous, that’s for sure’’.

“What Blade brings to the team will be dynamic,’’ he said.

Blade Baxter celebrating a wicket for Monash Tigers last season.

It’s been a productive off-season for Ormond: aside from beating a number of VSDCA clubs to the signature of Baxter, it also locked in Kingston-Hawthorn opener Dylan Rhys-Jones and former Seddon VTCA batsman Ben Speake.

In Speake’s first season at Seddon he cracked 216 in a grand final. And he hit another double the following season.

Rhys-Jones played one First XI match for Kingston Hawthorn, in 2016-17, and captained its seconds.

Ring said his leadership would be a bonus to Ormond, which will again be captained by leading VSDCA all-rounder James Wild.

“Our batting was a weakness last season so hopefully these guys (Speake and Rhys-Jones) will help fix that and ‘Wildy’ keeps doing what he does year in, year out,’’ he said.

“We’ve also got an up-and-comer in Kobe Heitlinger, who is 17 and opened the batting for us near the end of last season. He’ll slide down the order and create a bit more stability. Lee Weiss will carry on and hopefully Luke Heath will fire a shot as well. He was a good recruit for us last season but unfortunately didn’t trouble the scorers too much. A fresh start with a full pre-season will get him going again.’’

Ben Speake batting for Seddon.

Young McKinnon fast bowler Jacob Gray is another signing.

The Monders have also sent three more of their young players on to Premier Cricket, with Victorian Under 17 selection Spencer Wood joining Camberwell Magpies, Vinnie Page trying his luck at St Kilda and Jack Elwood going to Prahran.

Elsternwick squeezed Ormond out of the top six in the final round in 2018-19 — and then swept through to the grand final.

Ring said the Monders were shaping well.

“The side looks as balanced as it’s ever been … looks really good on paper but it’s about getting out there on a Saturday and getting it done,’’ he said.

“The signs are good. We’re gelling well and attendance (at training) is the highest it’s been since I’ve been here. Everyone’s excited and ready to go.’’

VSDCA clearances as of September 14

Nicholas Cowling: from Darwin & District to Brunswick

Stephen Daniels: Pottsville Cricket Club to Elsternwick

Daniel Fielding: Lower Plenty Cricket Club to Malvern

Corey Hogan: Kew Cricket Club to Brunswick

Stuart Horrocks: Nundah United CC to Coburg

Matthew Jones: Balwyn Cricket Club to St Bernard’s

Geoff Kiker: Balwyn Cricket Club to St Bernard’s

James Lowrie: Balwyn Cricket Club to St Bernard’s

James Lynch: Beaumaris Cricket Club to Malvern

Conor McGuire: Essendon Cricket Club to St Bernard’s

Sainandan Nathi: Werribee Cricket Club to Hoppers Crossing

Althaf Nizam: Coburg Cricket Club to Preston

Joshua Norman: Jan Juc Cricket Club to Werribee

Thomas Polkinghorne: Balwyn Cricket Club to Malvern

Dravid Rao: Plenty Valley Cricket Club to Oakleigh

Manav Shah: Oakleigh Cricket Club to Moorabbin

Aaron Shellie: Essendon Cricket Club to Coburg

Zorayas Shethna: Coburg Cricket Club to Yarraville

Alex Skinner: Hoppers Crossing Cricket Club to Moorabbin

Mitchell Spong: Lindisfarne Cricket Club to Elsternwick

Surya Sriram: Coburg Cricket Club to Brunswick

Kishan Sudeep: Oakleigh Cricket Club to Hoppers Crossing

Joseph Turmine: North Hobart Cricket Club to Elsternwick

Luke Williams: North Hobart Cricket Club to Elsternwick