Leader’s Local Cricket scribes name their VTCA Teams of the Year in every division
Leader Local Cricket writers have combed through the stats to select the VTCA Teams of the Year in every division. Check out each star-studded team.
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It’s semi-final season in the VTCA.
Leader Local Cricket writers Ben Higgins and Brayden May have come together to recognise the best performers of the season.
The competition for spots in each XI was fierce with plenty unlucky to miss out.
We’ve named our best XIs in each of the six senior men’s divisions as well as the women’s division, which crowned Aberfeldie as champion on the weekend.
Did we get it right? Have your say.
SENIOR DIVISION
The difficult part of selecting the final XI was a lack of pacemen. The top-four wicket-takers this season are all spinners, led by former international Fawad Ahmed. It’s seen perennial Team of the Year selection Mitch Johnstone squeezed out. In the search for pace, his teammate Matt Doric comes in over the top as the leading quick, while all-rounders Ben Walkden and Trent Lawford provide the other new ball options. The top-four bats pick themselves, while Donovan Pell takes the drinks. In a positive sign for the competition, seven different clubs are represented.
1. Cameron West (Sydenham-Hillside)
Runs: 545 Ave: 54.5
2. Aaron Ayre (Deer Park)
Runs: 504 Ave: 72
3. Michael Hill (Yarraville Club) (Capt)
Runs: 661 Ave: 73.44
4. Anthony Alleyne (Sydenham-Hillside)
Runs: 466 Ave: 51.78 Wickets: 22 Ave: 17.45
5. Trent Lawford (Yarraville Club)
Runs: 476 Ave: 52.89 Wickets: 13 Ave: 18.46
6. Ben Walkden (Airport West St Christophers)
Runs: 303 Ave: 37.88 Wickets: 27 Ave: 12.22
7. Mohammed Alfar (Deer Park) (WK)
Runs: 342 Ave: 33.5 Catches: 22 Stumpings 2
8. Chathura Deshapriya (Aberfeldie)
Wickets: 34 Ave: 13.76
9. Matt Doric (Yarraville Club)
Wickets: 28 Ave: 18.14
10. Akila Isanka (St Albans)
Wickets: 38 Ave: 18.24
11. Fawad Ahmed (Deer Park)
Wickets: 41 Ave: 10.37
12. Donovan Pell (Westmeadows)
Runs: 459 Ave: 41.73
WOMEN’S DIVISION
The top-four teams dominate the Team of the Year with only one player selected from outside the semi-finalists – Hannah Brne. A number of the top run-scorers were also among the top wicket-takers giving this side plenty of firepower. Caitlin Pretty continues to be the dominate force in the women’s division and was both the leading batter and bowler this season. Having guided her team to the premiership, Jacqueline Wade is the skipper.
1. Abigail Burns (Aberfeldie)
Runs: 222 Ave: 31.71 Wickets: 9 Ave: 17.33
2. Nat Egan (Maribyrnong Park St Mary’s)
Runs: 313 Ave: 78.25
3. Caitlin Pretty (Caroline Springs)
Runs: 430 Ave: 61.43 Wickets: 14 Ave: 6.93
4. Sarah Drew (Glenroy)
Runs: 276 Ave: 39.43 Wickets: 11 Ave: 14.82
5. Nicole Morton (Glenroy)
Runs: 221 Ave: 55.25 Wickets: 10 Ave: 16.6
6. Jacqueline Wade (Aberfeldie) (Capt)
Runs: 185 Ave: 37 Wickets: 9 Ave: 11.56
7. Alisha Fowler (Caroline Springs) (WK)
Runs: 116 Ave: 29 Catches: 5
8. Molly McVeigh (Aberfeldie)
Runs: 122 Ave: 17.43 Wickets: 13 Ave: 11.54
9. Amelia Sevoir (Caroline Springs)
Wickets: 11 Ave: 11.27
10. Kyle Flinn (Glenroy)
Wickets: 13 Ave: 12.77
11. Miriam Hussain (Caroline Springs)
Wickets: 13 Ave: 5.38
12. Hannah Brne (Sydenham-Hillside)
Runs: 182 Ave: 30.33
DIVISION 1
Many of the top players in the second tier enjoyed strong seasons with bat and ball which made places in the final XI tough to come by. Ryan Maskell was the clear standout opener and gloveman in the competition which almost made him the first name on the team sheet. We found many of the bowlers at the top of the charts also proved to be more than handy with the bat.
1. Ryan Maskell (Doutta Stars) (WK)
Runs: 526 Ave: 52.6 Catches: 26 Stumpings: 1
2. Jack Luxton (Seddon)
Runs: 481 Ave: 43.73
3. Tom Harrison (Altona North)
Runs: 380 Ave: 38
4. Nadeera Thuppahi (Altona Roosters)
Runs: 559 Ave: 62.11
5. Dilip Tharaka (Sunshine)
Runs: 409 Ave: 58.43
6. Pramud Hettiwatte (Sunshine)
Runs: 406 Ave: 50.75 Wickets: 28 Ave: 15.07
7. Tom Foulds (Seddon)
Runs: 362 Ave: 36.2 Wickets: 13 Ave: 17.31
8. Rajesh Magar (Footscray United)
Runs: 326 Ave: 46.57 Wickets: 18 Ave: 21.56
9. Ashen Abeykoon (Sunshine)
Runs: 201 Ave: 28.71 Wickets: 20 Ave: 15.05
10. Shakeem Clarke (PEGS) (Capt)
Wickets: 38 Ave: 15.05
11. Nuwan Liyanapathirana (Haig Fawkner)
Wickets: 25 Ave: 17.8
12. Blake McKinnon (Oak Park St Francis de Sales)
Runs: 209 Ave: 26.13 Wickets: 19 Ave: 21.63
DIVISION 2
Despite finishing minor premier, Williamstown Imperials only has one representative in the side, perhaps a sign of the team’s evenness. Meanwhile, fourth-placed Maribyrnong Park St Mary’s has three. Selection was pretty straight forward except for Jason McGann getting the nod over Peter Goulding. They both took 25 wickets and while Goulding had the better average we’ve gone for McGann’s ability with the stick. Eight teams are represented in a great show of class across the competition.
1. Hashan James (Grand United)
Runs: 381 Ave: 54.43 Wickets 26 Ave: 14.08
2. Daniel Stavris (Maribynong Park-St Mary’s) (Capt)
Runs: 377 Ave: 37.7
3. Sam Evans (Maribyrnong Park-St Mary’s)
Runs: 594 Ave: 59.4
4. Harsha De Silva (West Coburg)
Runs: 541 Ave: 60.11
5. Luca Zavattiero (Williamstown CYMS)
Runs: 370 Ave: 33.64
6. Josh van Zyl (Williamstown Imperials) (WK)
Runs: 249 Ave: 27.67 Catches: 27 Stumpings: 2
7. Kyle Adams (West Coburg)
Wickets: 26 Ave: 12.62
8. Jason McGann (Sunbury)
Wickets: 25 Ave: 11.92
9. Samith Fernando (Greenvale Kangaroos)
Wickets: 30 Ave: 16.67
10. Anthony De Zilva (Maribyrnong Park-St Mary’s)
Wickets: 56 Ave: 8.82
11. Rhys Watson (Newport-Digman)
Wickets: 28 Ave: 12.82
12. Peter Goulding (West Coburg)
Wickets: 25 Ave: 10.12
DIVISION 3
While some of the top order batters here might have been a little lower on the run-scoring charts, their ability with the ball saw them sneak ahead. Picking a quartet of bowlers was arguably the toughest task with so many impressive players throughout the season. If we put this side out onto the park against opposition, we get the feeling they wouldn’t concede many runs given there was so many low averages.
1. Rasanjana Jayarathna (Point Cook Centrals)
Runs: 412 Ave: 37.45
2. Farrukh Shahzad (Caroline Springs)
Runs: 397 Ave: 39.7
3. Krishan Alang (Point Cook Centrals)
Runs: 302 Ave: 43.14 Wickets: 13 Ave: 10.69
4. Naivedyam Dwivedi (Sunshine Heights) (Capt)
Runs: 488 Ave: 54.22 Wickets: 23 Ave: 19.96
5. Rukshan Fernando (Caroline Springs)
Runs: 509 Ave: 101.8
6. Jacob Macdonald (Gellibrand)
Runs: 472 Ave: 42.91 Wickets: 16 Ave: 23
7. Bhavesh Seth (Point Cook) (WK)
Runs: 353 Ave: 27.15 Catches: 19
8. Dean Gila (Keilor Park)
Wickets: 29 Ave: 9.97
9. Rahmatullah Khwaja (Kingsville)
Runs: 211 Ave: 70.33 Wickets: 25 Ave: 9.56
10. Rashmi Jinan Marshuk (East Keilor)
Wickets: 25 Ave: 12.44
11. Dejan Gilevski (Moonee Valley)
Wickets: 29 Ave: 12.14
12. Max Rouvray (Point Cook)
Wickets: 24 Ave: 15.58
DIVISION 4
The challenge in Division 4 was top-order bats. The run-scorers charts were dominated by middle order batters this season. As such it’s seen someone like Chris Henry who was 12th ranked run-scorer jump into the XI. Andrew Wilks can consider himself unlucky to be carrying the drinks, squeezed despite being the fourth ranked wicket-taker. Despite finishing second on the ladder Bellbridge dominates with four selections.
1. Chris Henry (Bellbridge)
Runs: 277 Ave: 34.63
2. Daniel Nightingale (Footscray Angliss)
Runs: 356 Ave: 39.56
3. Henro Dias (Bellbridge)
Runs: 421 Ave: 60.14 Wickets: 18 Ave: 14.33
4. Bailey Williamson (Sunshine YCW)
Runs: 406 Ave: 58
5. Luke Simpson (Werribee Centrals)
Runs: 398 Ave: 39.8
6. Usman Ashraf (Werribee Centrals)
Runs: 386 Ave: 48.25 Wickets: 14 Ave: 16.14
7. Dillon Hinge (Bellbridge) (WK)
Runs: 335 Ave: 41.88 Catches: 27 Stumpings: 2
8. Praveen De Silva (Melton South)
Runs: 289 Ave: 32.11 Wickets: 27 Ave: 14.44
9. Tarique Jeffrey (Werribee Centrals)
Runs: 220 Ave: 22 Wickets: 33 Ave: 13.15
10. Matt Williams (Sunshine YCW)
Wickets: 40 Ave: 14.7
11. Saman Muthuwadige (Melton South)
Wickets: 45 Ave: 7.27
12. Andrew Wilks (Bellbridge)
Wickets: 30 Ave: 9.43
DIVISION 5
The key thing about the final XI for the lowest VTCA is the fact there’s a lot of versatility. Shohan Rangika was a standout bowler, one of the best in all grades and picked himself with his 41 scalps. Brad Fawcus led Pascoe Vale Central’s impressive debut season in the competition and is deservingly the skipper of this side. Jay Dolliver was a standout for Wyndhamvale and surely has to be in contention for the league medal.
1. Vishal Attan (Williamstown Congs)
Runs: 389 Ave: 38.9
2. Karanpreet Singh (Barkly Street Uniting)
Runs: 379 Ave: 42.11
3. Brad Fawcus (Pascoe Vale Central) (Capt)
Runs: 393 Ave: 53.16
4. Jay Dolliver (Wyndhamvale)
Runs: 311 Ave: 28.27 Wickets: 31 Ave: 11.06
5. Steve Robertson (Melton Centrals) (WK)
Runs: 355 Ave: 50.71 Catches: 13 Stumpings: 3
6. Umair Shabbir (Donnybrook)
Runs: 343 Ave: 38.11
7. Parsanjeet Malik (Williamstown Congs)
Runs: 281 Ave: 28.1 Wickets: 17 Ave: 27.65
8. Shohan Rangika (Burnside Springs United)
Wickets: 41 Ave: 7.85
9. Matthew Sanders (Burnside Springs United)
Wickets: 30 Ave: 10.86
10. Kamalpreet Singh (Donnybrook)
Wickets: 33 Ave: 11.94
11. David Tripp (Pascoe Vale Central)
Wickets: 21 Ave: 8.76
12. Pulin Doshi (Barkly Street Uniting)
Wickets: 22 Ave: 16.27
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