Greenvale Kangaroos unveils its new look Premier Cricket First XI after off-season exodus

Greenvale Kangaroos confirms its Round 1 First XI with a trio of young guns set to debut as the club’s rebuild begins following a tumultuous off-season.

Greenvale Kangaroos new beginning starts now.

After a tumultuous off-season, which saw almost the entire First XI depart, the Premier Cricket club has locked in the First XI set to take the field in Round 1 on Saturday – weather permitting.

The Kangaroos will debut exciting youngsters Ivan Zmak, Jordan Kosteas and Lishan de Silva when they host Prahran at Greenvale Reserve.

The trio are among nine new faces.

“We’re pretty excited about Jordan and Ivan,” coaching director Ash Cavigan said.

“Ivan is a young leg-spinner and a really exciting prospect, we’ll get some games into him this year and young Jordy as well.

“The other exciting young talent is Lishan de Silva, a 17 or 18-year-old left-hand bat, local lad from Moonee Ponds.

“He’s got a bit of Ash Chandrasinghe, he reminds me a lot of him.”

Greenvale also has Cricket Victoria Under-19 Emerging squad member Jack Pysing and Under-17s Lewis Dichiera on its list.

Zmak took 23 wickets across 12 Second and Third XI games last season.

Kosteas made 13 Second XI appearances, scoring 194 runs, and got senior experience in three Super Slam matches.

Just two players from 2022-23 will suit up again this season, wicketkeeper Bernard Kelly and all-rounder Haseeb Qureshi.

The list of departures is extensive but Greenvale has attracted some quality players in their place.

Former Essendon batsman Justin Galleoti returns to Victoria after three successful seasons with Clarence in Tasmania and will take the captaincy.

Sri Lankan First Class bat Damith Perera looms as a key player, while Praveen Dalanka (Frankston Peninsula), Kalhan Sineth (Elsternwick), Odil Perera (Donvale) and Lachlan Roughley (UTS North Sydney) have also signed on.

Roughley faces a delayed start to the season following shoulder surgery.

Odil Perera and Galleoti will open the batting ahead of de Silva, Kosteas and Qureshi.

Then Sineth, Kelly and Dalanka before Nivethanan Monoharan, Ankit Saxena and Zmak make up the tail.

With the new season here, Cavigan was happy with the work he and coach Sunny Fernando had achieved.

“From when Sunny and myself walked into the club to where we’re at now, we’re really pleased, he said.

2023-24: ULTIMATE PREMIER CRICKET SEASON PREVIEW

LEADER: GET YOUR PREMIER CRICKET NEWS HERE

PREMIER: FOOTSCRAY READY FOR CHANGING OF THE GUARD

“We’ve worked really, really hard to put a list together in a short space of time.

“We’re under no illusions about where we’re at but really happy with what we’re trying to do; get some good young talent on the list, get the environment right, get a good coaching structure in place, all the foundations.

“We’re building from the ground up and we’re in a good spot, we’re on track.

“I know we’re going to have a lot of tough days but we’re going to have some good ones as well, we’re going to have some fun.”