Essendon’s explosive line-up well suited to one-day Premier Cricket season

Essendon boasts some of the most explosive talents in Premier Cricket and the one-day season could help the Bombers end their premiership drought.

Connor Rutland appeals for a wicket.

The one-day Premier Cricket season could play perfectly into Essendon’s hands.

The Bombers possess one of the most explosive line-ups in the competition, well suited to the 40-over game.

It’s a trait that has arguably held the club back from breaking its 50-year premiership drought in recent seasons given finals are played in the two-day format.

Boasting reigning Ryder Medallist James Seymour, Aaron Ayre and captain Michael Hill at the top of the order, rivals will not be able to afford any mistakes in the power play.

Likewise with the ball, Matt Doric, Tom O’Donnell, Cam McClure and Liam Bowe are capable of snatching momentum and putting a game to bed.

Tom O'Donnell celebrates a wicket with Essendon teammates. Picture: Julian Smith

Hill was expecting some exciting, high-scoring games in what will be a unique season.

“With the weather warming up, wickets are going to be flat, I think we will see some big scores this year,” he said.

“It’s the way we play, we’re a positive team with bat and ball, so I don’t see why that would change.

“As I’ve said before the best way to contain teams is to take wickets and especially in one-day cricket, we bowl a lot of teams out.”

Essendon will enter the 2020-21 season virtually unchanged with expected recruit Isaac Conway deciding to shift to South Australia, while promising batsman Stephen Mihelakos-James has crossed to Footscray.

Seymour will be particularly critical to Essendon’s success, capable of turning a game with bat or ball.

The star opener scored 711 runs and claimed 24 wickets on his way to a maiden Ryder Medal last season and returns to Essendon already in cracking form.

He topped the run-scoring charts in the Northern Territory over the winter, knocking up 574 runs at an average of 44.15 for Waratah, before smashing 230 runs at 57.5 in five matches for Randwick-Petersham in the NSW Premier competition.

James Seymour in action for Essendon. Picture: Julian Smith

“James is a special player, he opens the batting and is one of our most economical bowlers,” Hill said.

“He’s really important to our team, not only as a player but around the group – he’s much loved in the group – he brings some light-heartedness to what can be a long Saturday.”

Behind Seymour, Ayre and Hill the Bombers will continue to trust their system.

The likes of Connor Rutland, Isaac Willett, Liam Molloy, Emerson White and Ryan Stingel are battling for spots in the middle order, while with Conway not returning, Donovan Toohey will take the wicketkeeping gloves.

Hill said there was more to his team than the big names.

“We’re pretty confident with our list, we’ve got some really good young kids and a crop of guys that have played in the 50-game range that have done a job for us in the past,” he said.

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“Ryan Stingel is proving himself at the level, Isaac Willett is in that 40-60 game category and Emerson White is an underage Victorian player.

“Guys like Liam Molloy who haven’t had a heap of opportunity with the ball are well and truly up to the level.

“Luke Stagg played for us on Saturday, it was good for him to see the difference in level and he’ll be better for the run.”

The Bombers kick off the Premier Cricket campaign with a trip down the highway to Geelong.