WGCA: Cranbourne Meadows signs six recruits for 2021-22 season

A concerted recruiting campaign has netted Cranbourne Meadows six players, including a gun batsman and two spinners, in the WGCA.

Kavinda Pulukkuttiarachchi batting for Heatherhill in the MPCA last season. He’s joined Cranbourne Meadows. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Chasing recruits can be laborious, but new Cranbourne Meadows coach Brent Shaw admits “I love it”.

“I’ve been involved in cricket a long time, so I’ve got a few contacts,” he said.

Shaw estimates he contacted “15 to 20” prospective recruits over the past few months.

The result is six new additions for the Rebels ahead of the 2021-22 West Gippsland Cricket Association season.

“We’ve gone well, we had a bit of a focus,” Shaw said.

“We’ve still got a few irons in the fire with an opening bowler which I think we’ll need but, yeah, I think with the squad we’re starting to get we’ll be competitive.”

Kavinda Pulukkuttiarachchi.

The newcomers are headlined by opening batsman Kavinda Pulukkuttiarachchi, who blasted a century for Heatherhill in the MPCA last season.

His 100 was made against Flinders, which was spearheaded by former Queensland and Melbourne Renegades paceman Matt Gale.

“He’s technically correct, got all the shots,” Shaw said of Pulukkuttiarachchi.

“He will build an innings and I think he’s got a few gears which is good.”

Amit Prabhakar, a right-arm off-spinner and top order bat from the strong North West Cricket Association, is another quality addition.

“I think he will take a lot of wickets,” Shaw said.

Other recruits include Springvale top order bat Harj Sohal, Lyndale batsman-keeper Satnam Singh and Zion Pereira, a leg-spinner from Moorabbin West.

Brett Robinson bowling for Delacombe Park.

Former Moorabbin West coach Brett Robinson has joined the club as assistant coach/bowling coach. He will play in the lower grades to help mentor the younger players.

“He’s a good cricket man, knows the game,” Shaw said of Robinson, who also coached Delacombe Park in the MPCA.

Shaw said Cranbourne Meadows’ bowling would feature plenty of spin.

“My motto is, ‘spin to win’, because not many players at this level know how to play spin,” he said.

“Get through overs and build pressure that way.

“I think we’ve given ourselves a pretty good opportunity with some players we’ve brought in.”

Shaw said he had always enjoyed recruiting players, researching who to target and making contact with them.

“When I was at Moorabbin West, some years I’d contact 30 to 40 and I might get two,” he said.

“It’s tough work. But when you can get someone who fits into your club and your culture and you think you might have them for two years and they stay for 10, well, then it’s worth it.”

Cranbourne Meadows managed to get two training sessions at Casey Stadium before lockdown. There were strong numbers at both sessions.

Shaw said the Rebels would be ready to hit the ground running in round one of the 20021-22 season.