Sub-District cricket: Luke Wintle’s season the ‘best-ever’ by a Noble Park player

Luke Wintle has earned high praise for his run-filled season, with president Craig Ortland calling it the “best-ever’’ season by a Noble Park player in Sub-District cricket.

President Craig Ortland has declared captain-coach Luke Wintle’s season to be the greatest by a Noble Park player in Sub-District cricket.

The former St Bedes Mentone Tigers amateur football star cracked 811 runs and took 26 catches this season, both club records.

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Remarkably, the tall right-hander made at least 40 in every innings after the Christmas break, stringing together scores of 98no, 94, 43, 40, 42, 72no, 42no and, in last weekend’s grand final against Plenty Valley, 46.

An unbeaten 141 against St Bernard’s in Round 6 helped lift his average to 73.7.

His run aggregate also went past Isi Perera’s club-high of 709, made in 2014-15.

“His consistency was amazing,’’ Ortland, Noble’s president for 22 years, said of Wintle.

“He was pretty good last season. But he was a different player this season. Just amazing. Whenever he went out there he expected to make runs. He never looked like getting out, and the only reason he went out in the grand final was because he was trying to force the runs and keep the strike. We just needed other people to bat with him. We have for a while.

“The other thing to remember is he was walking in at 1-0 every week because our openers were poor at best. But he was always up to it. He hates getting out. I’ve never seen a batsman so devastated after getting out, even after making a big score. He gets really down on himself.’’

Luke Wintle went past 800 runs for Noble Park.

Ortland added: “I don’t think Noble Park has seen a season like Luke’s since we’ve been in Subbies (1990-91). I really don’t. It would have to be the best-ever by a Noble Park player.

“When Gav Hurley came to the club he was great. He churned out runs, probably 500 a year for six or seven years. Geoff Richardson’s first year was really good … 600 runs and three ducks on uncovered wickets. Dean Edmunds was a good player, Warren Whiteside was a good player. But they didn’t get 800 runs or take so many catches.’’

Luke Wintle was a champion ruckman for St Bedes Mentone Tigers.

Ortland said Wintle’s catching was “exceptional’’, particularly off spinners Isi Perera and Kal Ilippuli Arachige, and his leadership was often inspired.

“We’ve got quite a multicultural side and he brings everyone together to make them gel,’’ he said.

“You can see why he was such a revered captain of St Bedes Mentone. Great people’s person.’’

But the Parkers could be in for a struggle to retain Wintle.

Ortland said the 40-year-old hinted after the grand final that he might retire.

Noble will try to convince him to play on and will search for a coach to lessen the load on Wintle, who will pick himself in the VSDCA team of the year and could also be selected as captain.

Noble Park officials believe he’ll also give the Val Holten Medal a shake.