MPCA 2020-21: Competition to be hot in Provincial and Peninsula
We’ve rounded up all the ins and outs for Provincial and Peninsula divisions ahead of the opening round of the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association on Saturday.
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At long last, we’re set to go.
After being delayed six weeks by COVID-19, the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association season will blast off on Saturday.
Clubs have bolstered their lists and will take an aggressive mindset into a season of one-day cricket.
Here’s how clubs shape up:
PROVINCIAL
BADEN POWELL
Coach: Craig Entwistle
Captain: Travis Kellerman
Last season: 5th
In: Zacc Klann (Dromana)
Out: Tom Wood (not returning from UK)
Snapshot: Travis Kellerman takes over the captaincy and will lead a talented Braves side featuring run machine Rhys Elmi, the accomplished Entwistle and strike bowler Taylor Harrison.
BAXTER
Coach: Adeel Hussain
Captain: Sammy Mullavey
Last season: 6th
In: Adeel Hussain (Tootgarook), Sammy Mullavey (Heatherhill), Joe Rule (returning)
Out: Nil
Snapshot: With a new coach and captain, Baxter will start the season with a shot of energy. Tellingly, champions Chris Brittain and Daniel Warwick remain, as does leg-spinner Yohan Maddege, who took 36 wickets last season. Hussain will boost the pace stocks, although he will sit out the opening round owing to a suspension incurred last season.
LANGWARRIN
Coach: Tim Harper
Captain: Travis Campbell
Last season: 3rd
In: Jayde Herrick (Somerville), Cameron Sharpe (St Andrews), Taylor Smith (Pines), Tommy Turnock (Pearcedale), Lachie Jamieson (Frankston Peninsula)
Out: Jake Prosser, Nathan Volpe, Leigh Paterson, Mitch Bromley, Ricky Campbell (all to Cardinia)
Snapshot: Former Victorian paceman Jayde Herrick will open the batting and bowling, while all-rounder Cameron Sharpe is also a quality inclusion. They will complement a talented side featuring Trav Campbell, Matt Prosser and Tom Hussey, while Young Kyle Parrott will get his opportunity.
MORNINGTON
Coach: Darren Berry
Captain: Kurt Nestor
Last season: 7th
In: Glen Wood (returning), Shane Hockey (returning)
Out: Michael Heib (retired)
Snapshot: New skipper Kurt Nestor will lead a young developing side that is likely to have seven players under 21 in the First XI. “An abundance of talent building at the Dogs with no limits or expectations,’’ coach Berry says.
MT ELIZA
Captain-coach: Tom Baron
Development coach: John Hastings (non-playing)
Last season: 2nd
In: Shaun Knott (Eaglehawk), Ben Tracy (returning), Jarrod Dennis (Ferntree Gully), Simon Catchlove (Red Hill)
Out: Justin Grant (Old Peninsula), Matt Whelan and Tim Clarke (Delacombe Park), Lyle House (Rosebud), Keith Biggs (Bentleigh ANA), Russell Fulton
Snapshot: Quality recruits offset some key departures for the Mounties who will have one of the strongest bowling attacks, with Tom and Nick Baron, Shaun Knott and Nathan Smith. Coach Baron says: “Look out for the likes of Nick Strickland, Rashmika Opatha and Shaun Knott’’.
OLD PENINSULA
Coach: John Forrest
Captain: Will Crowder
Last season: 4th
In: Justin Grant (Mt Eliza), Rhys Whitling (Mt Martha)
Out: Nil
Snapshot: All is place for the Pirates to challenge for the title after adding key players. Master blaster Dylan O’Malley will have the freedom to go hard early knowing there is plenty of batting to follow. “We will have better depth than previous seasons with a number of talented juniors like Bailey Payze, Harry Van Raay and Zac Bauer coming through,’’ coach Forrest says.
RED HILL
Captain-coach: Adam Slack
Last season: 1st (in Peninsula)
In: nil
Out: Simon Dart (coaching Japan), Simon Catchlove (Mt Eliza)
Snapshot: With champion Simon Dart unlikely to play much after landing an overseas job, the Hillmen face a big task in their return to the top grade. But they are a tight knit group that knows how to win.
SORRENTO
Coach: Liam O’Connor/Gerard Clarke
Captain: Bobby Wilson
Last season: 1st
In: Nil
Outs: Chris King (Boneo), Ravi Palleguruge (Rye)
Snapshot: The Sharks hoisted their first Provincial flag in 48 years last season and will again be powered by master bat Wilson and paceman Jake Wood (46 wickets last season), with support from Jedd Falck, Corey Harris and Liam O’Connor.
PENINSULA
FLINDERS
Captain-coach: Matt Gale
Last season: 8th (in Provincial)
In: Jackson Coles (Hastings), Matt Williams (Hampton Park), Blake Hogan-Keogh (returning from UK)
Out: Tom Clements (Queensland)
Snapshot: The Sharks drop down a grade despite playing some very good cricket in Provincial last season. Look for excitement machine Kane Hawkins to blast off, quality opener Mason Mail to impress and Matt Gale to lead from the front. Swing king Matt Burns is a big out; he will skipper the twos. “We are aiming for finals, and looking for big seasons from Kane Hawkins, Mason Mail and Liam Wolters,’’ president Field says.
HEATHERHILL
Coach: Steve O’Donnell
Captain: Kristian Miller
Last season: 5th
In: Jason Hinde (returning), Jack Lavery (Frankston Peninsula, ex-junior), Kavinda Pulukkuttiarichchi (Brighton Union), Thisuraka Akmeemana (Sri Lanka)
Out: Sammy Mullavey (Baxter)
Snapshot: Young and talented side, with some very handy recruits hoping to go one better and give finals a push this year. “The one-day format will suit us, and we have got some great depth pushing from the twos. Watch out for 18-year-old quick Aiden Lenehan to star with the ball,’’ says skipper Miller.
LONG ISLAND
Coach: Bart Hudgson
Captain: Tom Boxell
Last season: 3rd
In: Zac Wilson (Knoxfield), Daniel Kelly (Pearcedale)
Out: Nil
Snapshot: With one of the best batting line-ups in the MPCA, the Islanders are the team to beat. Former Victorian Country all-rounder Zac Wilson will slot into the top order alongside Nick Jewell, Boxell and Michael Burke, and Wilson may also open the bowling with his offies. “We’ve strengthened our new ball bowling with Dan (Kelly) and classy all-rounder in Zac. We hope to make finals and go from there,’’ Hudgson says.
MAIN RIDGE
Captain-coach: Jordan McCulley
Last season: 6th
In: Jordan McCulley (Kingston Hawthorn), Nicholas McNamara (St Kilda)
Out: Nil
Snapshot: An exciting season lays ahead for the Cougars under speedster McCulley who returns after four seasons at Kingston-Hawthorn, while aggressive spinner McNamara is back after three seasons at St Kilda. Cougars young guns Ollie McEncroe, Will Noall, Jim Abbott, Billy Sakalis and Charlie and Jack Banks brothers will be more prevalent this season.
MOOROODUC
Non-playing coach: Kenny Cremen
Captain: Ben Williams
Last season: 7th
In: Lahiru Anthony (Vermont South), Matt Beggs (Old Peninsula), Jordan Keher (Frankston Peninsula/Skye)
Out: Rashimal Mendis, Grady Vickers (work), Liam Phillips (returned to UK), Myles Cordeux (Somerville)
Snapshot: The limited-overs format will suit the Ducs, but they will have to improve a lot to be a contender. “Our bowling we feel is quite strong and we have some real X factor type players with the bat. We have struggled with our week to week consistency in the past few seasons and this is something we are working strongly at,’’ coach Cremen says.
PINES
Coach: Paul Bradley
Captain: Ricky Ramsdale
Last season: 4th
In: Ricky Ramsdale (Delacombe Park), Billy Humphrey (Frankston Peninsula)
Out: Taylor Smith (Langwarrin), Sam Frawley (Pearcedale), Brad Trotter (Pearcedale), Will Kennedy (Pearcedale)
Snapshot: The Piners will be a leading contender with Ramsdale returning. Billy Humphrey will add more pace to the attack and Damien Lawrence and Harley Peace-Stirling will lead the batting. “We have lots of bowling depth and match winners. Harley Peace-Stirling and Lai Leaunoa set for huge years,’’ skipper Ramsdale says.
SEAFORD TIGERS
Coach: Jake Harrington
Captain: David James
Last season: 1st (in District)
In: Nil
Out: Liam Cox (Frankston Peninsula), Matt Pola (Tewantin Noosa)
Snapshot: The Tigers step up a division after an outstanding ’19-20 season when they won 10 of their 12 games to finish 26 points clear on top. “I think we’ll be competitive with the young group we have. Ultimately we are here for one thing, and that’s what we’ll be aiming to do,’’ skipper James says.
SOMERVILLE
Coach: Jason Nagel
Captain: Brad McDonald
Last season: 2nd
In: Aaron Kaddatz (returning), Jack Kennedy (returning), Ryan McNamara (returning), Myles Cordeux (Moorooduc), Cam Bailey (returning), Jarryd Bailey (returning)
Outs: Jayde Herrick (Langwarrin), Nick Marshall (Pearcedale), Sean Parker (Frankston Peninsula)
Snapshot: Yes, Herrick is a massive loss. But the Eagles still have plenty of quality with the likes of Brenton Alp, McDonald and Madu Perera. “With Jayde leaving we obviously had to recruit and with one-day cricket the players we have returning are going to play a huge role as all of them are more than capable all-rounders. Add to that the development of Luke Rowe and a full season from Justin Allsopp and we are confident we are on the right track in what is going to be a very tough and even competition,’’ coach Nagel says.
ROUND 1, PROVINCIAL
Langwarrin v Baden Powell
Mt Eliza v Mornington
Sorrento v Old Peninsula
Red Hill v Baxter
PENINSULA
Main Ridge v Somerville
Long Island v Heatherhill
Pines v Seaford Tigers
Flinders v Moorooduc
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