Mornington Peninsula Cricket recruits, rumours for season 2022-23

Rumours, player signings and a stack of coaching appointments...the MPCA off-season is awash with news. Latest here.

There’s been an impressive influx in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association in the off-season and more recruits are rumoured to be in the works.

There’s also been key departures.

Check out the latest:

IMPORT FOR SHARKS

Rosebud has picked up a “seriously good’’ overseas batsman.

“We’ve got an Englishman coming out and he’s apparently a very good player,’’ Rosebud coach Nick Jewell said.

“He made a hundred on the weekend just gone in a level just below County.

“Apparently he’s a very good player and can seriously bat.’’

While Rosebud is looking good, the whisper is it might be without one of its stars Billy Quigley for a month or so during the season, with an overseas holiday on the agenda.

Ben Stallworthy has joined Mt Martha.

FORMER PREMIER MAN AT REDS

Mt Martha has appointed former Hawthorn and Casey South Melbourne all-rounder Ben Stallworthy as captain-coach.

He most recently played with Boronia in the Eastern Cricket Association.

Stallworthy played 31 First XI matches for Hawthorn Monash University and three games for Casey South Melbourne.

A left-hander, he averaged 23.53 with the Hawks, with a highest score of 70.

Stallworthy is an experienced campaigner, having coached several clubs including Croydon Ranges, Johnson Park and Boronia.

WILSON STEPS DOWN

Sorrento will have a new leader next season after Bobby Wilson stepped down as First XI captain in a move, according to the Sharks, “he hopes can take us a step further next season”.

Wilson has been a mighty leader at Sorrento, steering the club to two Provincial premierships and four grand final appearances.

The champion batsman will continue to churn out the runs for the Sharks next season.

Bill Biggs dives to make his ground while batting for Bentleigh ANA.

MOUNTIES SIGN BATTING STAR

Mt Eliza has gained a tremendous recruit in prolific batsman Ravindu Kodithuwakku.

He has crossed from Carlisle Park Vikings in the West Gippsland association where he scored 2021 runs, at 48.12, in the past three seasons.

Kodithuwakku blazed seven centuries in that time.

“Ravindu is good mates with (Mt Eliza’s) Rashmika Opatha who has also recommitted to the Mounties,” Mt Eliza said in a social media post.

“Whilst the addition of Ravindu to our senior squad will add significant on field strength, we are just as excited about his desire to assist the club with specialist one on one batting coaching for senior and junior players.”

In other Mounties news, stylish batsman Bill Biggs has returned from Bentleigh ANA to strengthen the line-up, while young gun Josh Goudge has been appointed an assistant coach for season 2022-23.

Nick Baron is coaching the Mounties, who were relegated from Provincial last season but are are tipped to be a leading contender in Peninsula.

Damien Lawrence batting for Pines.

ON THE MOVE

Huge departure at Pines, with star Damien Lawrence heading off to play in the Warragul association.

The Piners have also lost Jackson Mockett (Langwarrin) from their MPCA Peninsula premiership side of last season.

Lawrence capped a superb 2021-22 season by winning the John Hille Medal after scoring 569 runs, at 47.42, and taking 11 wickets.

There’s also speculation Seaford premiership captain Matt Herbert could join Lawrence at Warragul.

POPULAR KANE

Flinders hurry master Kane Hawkins has no qualms about trying to smash the first ball of a game for six.

He’s achieved it in the past.

Hawkins is the most exciting player in the MPCA and his match-wining traits make him a man in demand.

And it seems Pines is going all out to lure him, believing he could be the crucial ingredient in its push for success in Provincial.

Seaford Tigers champ Dave James.

BOONIE BACK AS COACH

Seaford Tigers’ search for a new coach led all the way to...club stalwart David “Boonie’’ James.

The Tigers champion takes on the role, five years after he last did it.

He replaces Jake Harrington, who steps down to concentrate on playing.

While James will coach and play, he has relinguised the captaincy, with Mackenzie Gardner taking over as Seaford Tigers’ skipper.

Gardner, who played 18 First XI for Frankston Peninsula, will be one of the youngest captains in the MPCA at 22.

James is the Tigers’ longest serving senior coach having steered the Tigers from 2010-11 to 2016-17, as it a premiership coach and captain-coach. He was also club captain for 12 seasons.

Luke Hewitt joins Balnarring. Picture: Facebook

GREAT GETS FOR SAINTS

Balnarring has signed triple league medal winner Luke Hewitt and his brother Jake, both from Hastings.

They are just what the Saints were needing.

Luke Hewitt will captain and coach Balnarring and has grand plans.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and journey of leading a club from sub-district through the ranks with a goal of playing Provincial cricket in the near future,” he said.

Luke and Jake are both two-time premiership players at Hastings.

Luke is a match-winning top order batsman and opening bowler.

He won his third successive EG Betts Medal (in MPCA District) last season when he made 418 runs, at 34.18, and took 18 wickets, at 31.67.

Jake, a left-handed top order batsman, made 255 runs, at 21.25, last season and took 11 wickets bowling seam up.

Balnarring has also appointed the astute and much-admired Dave McClean as director of coaching.

It’s a homecoming of sorts for McClean, who was captain coach of Balnarring CC in the early 1990s.

Mark Cooper batting for Carrum last season. He’s left to coach Beaconsfield.

LIONS NAME COACH, CAPTAIN

Changes aplenty at Carrum.

Club great Josh Dent has been appointed coach, with Jake D’Atri to captain the First XI.

Mark Cooper, who coached the Lions to the MPCA District finals last season and also won the competition medal, has left to coach Beaconsfield in the DDCA.

Cooper, who lives at Pakenham, said he “would have liked’’ to continue at the Lions, where he spent two seasons, but the travel had become too much.

Dent is a true Carrum legend, a life member, past president, premiership captain and the club’s all-time leading run scorer.

D’Atri has been a fine player for Carrum since joining the club in 2015.

He and Dent are a proven combination, having led Carrum to the 2017-18 premiership as captain (Dent) and vice-captain (D’Atri).

ON THE HORN

A local cricket coach reckons he’s made over 100 phone calls chasing recruits in the past fortnight — and hasn’t landed one.

He says he’s blown away by the amount of money being offered to players who “haven’t done a lot’’.