Former internationals, run-machines and spearheads among VTCA’s biggest recruits for 2020-21
The Victorian Turf Cricket Association off-season has seen one of the best players in the league switch clubs, former internationals arrive and a host of other key recruits revealed. Here are the best ahead of the new season.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Victorian Turf Cricket Association clubs have been busy bolstering their line-ups ahead of a season that will be very different for various reasons.
Not only will the COVID-19 protocols be in place but the league has undergone a drastic restructure that will see 10-teams compete in Senior Division and 12 in a merged Division 1.
VSDCA: WHO ARE THE BIGGEST RECRUITS THIS OFF-SEASON?
LEADER: GET YOUR LOCAL CRICKET NEWS HERE
VTCA: YARRAVILLE CLUB GREAT DEPARTS ON EVE OF SEASON
Arguably the best player in the competition has decided to switch clubs in 2020-21 while our list of the biggest recruits also features former internationals and a run-machine with state Second XI and Big Bash League experience.
Here are the biggest moves since the end of the 2019-20 season.
KAUSHAL LOKUARACHCHI (Sunshine United)
Recruited from: Keilor (VTCA)
Could be the most significant signing of the off-season. The former Keilor captain has made the move to Senior Division rival Sunshine United after six outstanding seasons with the Blues. The former Sri Lanka international player has claimed two VTCA competition medals – one in Senior Division and the other in the second tier – and returned 3315 runs and 173 wickets for Keilor across all formats. Lokuarachchi is coming off another outstanding season in 2019-20, hammering 536 runs at 44.67, while his spin bowling delivered 21 wickets at 23.4.
TALLAN WRIGHT (Aberfeldie)
Recruited from: Footscray (Premier)
Having made one appearance for Abers in the VTCA’s T20 competition last season, Wright arrives full-time in 2020-21. Having reached the Division 1 West grand final last season, Abers will hope the former Essendon and Footscray Premier all-rounder can help them go one step further this season. Across the Bulldogs’ First and Second XI last season Wright finished with 109 runs and nine wickets. Wright will hope to replicate some of the success he had last time he played in the VTCA when he made 842 runs and took 59 wickets in three seasons with Greenvale.
YOSHAN KUMARA (Deer Park)
Recruited from: Ivanhoe (VSDCA)
The experienced all-rounder is a massive inclusion for a Deer Park side expected to be among the contenders in Division 1. Kumara collected 28 wickets at 16.3 for Ivanhoe last season to go with 167 runs at 18.6. He underlined his class by finishing runner-up in the Val Holten Medal, the VSDCA’s highest individual honour, in 2016-17 after posting 547 runs and grabbing 37 wickets for Taylors Lakes, while he also had a stint with Williamstown CYMS in the VTCA.
KYLE ADAMS (Greenvale Kangaroos)
Recruited from: Greenvale Kangaroos (Premier)
Adams called time on his Premier Cricket career last season but will carry on with the Kangaroos’ VTCA team as playing coach. The club will be disappointed to find itself in Division 2 but is more than capable to winning promotion this season. A shoulder injury restricted Adams to just a handful of games last season but he is expected to have a big say in Greenvale’s fortunes both with his on-field performances and off-field leadership.
MITCH JOHNSTONE (Yarraville Club)
Recruited from: Essendon (Premier)
Johnstone arrives at Yarraville Club as captain-coach with ample experience, having led Premier Cricket outfit Essendon, along with Werribee, Coburg and Roxburgh Park-Broadmeadows in the VSDCA. But the off-spinner is also a fine player, grabbing 20 wickets at 24.4 apiece for Essendon’s Second XI last season and collecting 69 wickets for the Bombers in the past three summers. Also capable of scoring handy runs in the middle-order.
NARINDER SHARMA (Craigieburn)
Recruited from: Bundoora (DVCA)
Sharma joins former Bundoora teammate Sunny Taggar at the Eagles. A Diamond Valley league medal winner in 2018-19, the all-rounder’s arrival has Craigieburn firmly in the promotion conversation after the club reached the Division 1 semi-finals for the first time in club history last season. After snaring 46 wickets in the past two seasons on synthetic, the move to turf could make Sharma’s bowling all that more dangerous. He looms as a handy middle order batsman as well after reaping 528 runs in the same time.
ISURU OKANDAGE (Druids)
Recruited from: Airport West St Christophers (VTCA)
Druids were rapt to lock in Okandage, who made eight first-class appearances in Sri Lanka and once batted with international star Tillakaratne Dilshan. Okandage punched out three half-centuries for Airport West St Christophers last season in a tally of 311 runs at 28.27. But the top-order batsman found some of his best form in 2018-19, hitting 504 runs at 36, including a knock of 63 against his new club in the Division 1 West grand final.
VTCA: PEGS SNARES RECORD-BREAKING RECRUIT
CHANGE: VTCA’S DIVISION, PROMOTION SHAKE-UP
VTCA: FORMER AUSSIE INTERNATIONAL TO COACH ANA
JAYDEN BORG (Doutta Stars)
Recruited from: Didn’t play 2019-20
The former Carlton First XI wicketkeeper returns to the game having stepped away after the 2016-17 season. Borg is a huge boost to Doutta Stars’ hopes of ending their premiership hoodoo and will slot nicely into a middle order that has been susceptible to collapses. The former Victoria Under-17 representative made 144 runs but more importantly pouched 34 catches in his last season of Premier Cricket.
JARRYD VERNON (Spotswood)
Recruited from: Gisborne (GDCA)
Vernon has been one of the leading players in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association for several seasons and brings valuable leadership to Spotswood. He returned 585 runs and 28 wickets in 2019-20 as he captained the Dragons to a premiership. He will reunite with former Gisborne teammate Knight, who hammered 700 runs at 43.8 for the Woodsmen last season.
DAN SALPIETRO (Airport West-St Christophers)
Recruited from: Clarence (Tasmanian Premier)
What a coup for the Saints, securing a player with vast experience in both Victorian and Tasmanian Premier Cricket and represented both states’ Second XI not to mention having a one-day game for Victoria and a couple of Big Bash League matches under his belt. Salpietro knocked in 698 runs and claimed 24 wickets for Clarence last season to claim the club’s best-and-fairest. The star batsman had a 1000-run campaign in 2015-16 and has scored more than 500 runs in a season seven times.
NEETAN CHOUHAN (Sunshine United)
Recruited from: Didn’t play
The former captain-coach is back at Sunshine United and will skipper the club’s First XI side. The left-handed opener hammered 476 runs at 34 in 2017-18 and contributed 193 runs at 48.3 from four appearances in 2018-19 before taking a break because of family commitments. He is a key addition after his appearances last season were limited to the Twenty20 competition.
MALITH COORAY (Westmeadows)
Recruited from: Glenroy (VTCA)
If you can’t beat them, join them? Cooray leaves Glenroy for the club that pipped it to the Division 1 North premiership and promotion last season, Westmeadows. He adds vital depth to the Warriors’ line-up ahead of their maiden Senior Division campaign having scored 370 runs last season – fifth most in the competition – and claimed 19 wickets – good enough for equal 12th overall.
NILOCHANA PERERA (Deer Park)
Recruited from: Noble Park (VSDCA)
The experienced all-rounder has crossed from Noble Park in another sizeable boost for Deer Park. Perera hit three half-centuries in the VSDCA last season, finishing with 337 runs at 30.6 to go with 10 wickets. But he showcased his class in 2018-19, contributing 448 runs at 37.13 and 25 wickets at 17. Despite Division 1 expanding to 12 teams this season, Perera and Yoshan Kumara’s arrival will have the club aiming for a return to finals.
INDIKA GALLAGE (East Keilor)
Recruited from: Druids (VTCA)
What a local cricket club at any level would give to have a former international Test and one-day player walk in the door. East Keilor lured Gallage across for the VTCA Division 3 season and with his ability to impact games with both bat and ball would have the club in promotion calculations. The Sri Lankan star scored 142 runs and claimed 11 wickets in Division 1 West last season.