Kew appoints new captain, coaches to lead club in VSDCA 2023-24

Subbies preliminary finalist Kew has a new leadership team for next season with a star batsman taking on the captaincy and new club coach appointed.

A pair of new coaches will lead Subbies power Kew into the 2023-24 VSDCA North-West season.

Star batsman David Wildsmith will step up as First XI captain and senior coach, while Seb Contos has been appointed club coach.

Wildsmith takes the captaincy from Matt Brown as he and Contos take the coaching reins from premiership mentor Wayne Myers.

Acting president Nick Chamberlain was excited by what Wildsmith and Contos will bring to the club.

“Both are outstanding people who bring considerable leadership qualities and will provide a coaching combination that we believe will bring great benefits to the entire club,” he said.

David Wildsmith in action for Kew. Picture: Hamish Blair

“David’s been part of the fabric of Kew for the last five or six seasons, his performances speak for themselves.

“Seb started off at Kew as a junior before heading off to Northcote and came back to play First XI and Second XI for the club.

“Over the last couple of years he’s shifted his focus to the coaching side of things and has, amongst other endeavours, opened up his own cricket academy which speaks to his commitment to coaching.

“One of many things that attracted us to Seb, is he’s someone who is very well-known and well-respected around the club.

“We feel he is the perfect person to be able to tie the senior and junior club together.”

Wildsmith was awarded the Batty Medal as best-on-ground in the 2021-22 North-East premiership, won a club champion award in 2018-19 and club batting award in 2018-19 and 2022-23.

Wildsmith’s 550 runs at an average of 61.11 including a century and four 50s, led the club despite playing just 12 games.

It sees a changing of the guard at Victoria Park after falling to Brighton in the preliminary final this season.

Kew’s leading wicket-taker William Sist. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Brown is taking a break and Myers has stepped away due to family commitments.

Premiership captain Chris Weeks has also called time at Kew and star opener Andrew Chalkley has joined Box Hill Reporter club Koonung Heights.

Import Joe Cooke is not expected to return but fellow UK recruit Ollie Birts could still after an impressive 29-wicket campaign.

Brown, Chalkley and Weeks combined for nearly 1500 runs, while Cooke scored 455 runs and took 27 wickets.

However, Chamberlain is confident the club will continue to be a competitive force.

“It would be fair to say (it’s a changing of the guard) but some key pieces of the premiership side remain in place and as club champions last season, we feel we can draw on the depth from within,” he said.

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“We believe with David and Seb at the helm, we can remain very competitive and hopefully more than that.

“Our attack remains largely intact and we believe we have the talent at the club to fill some big shoes.”

Will Sist led Kew’s attack last season with 35 wickets, ranked fifth in the North-South group.

Kew retains solid batting depth with James Clark enjoying a career-best season with 338 runs at 30.73 and Jack Stewart the third-ranked run-scorer in the Second XI competition and Matt Dahlsen 10th.