Plenty Valley reveals men’s coaching team, including new head coach and returning legend

Plenty Valley great Sean Ayres is returning to the club in a new role as the Bats lock in a new VSDCA coach and a swag of recruits.

Sean Ayres in action for Plenty Valley.

Plenty Valley hopes a new coach, a returning legend and swag of recruits will help it jump back up the VSDCA ladder in 2024-25.

The Bats have signed former Sri Lanka First Class batsman Mihiraj Wasantha Jayasekara to lead the men’s program.

He’ll be joined newly minted Subbies life member and club great Sean Ayres, as well as new general manager of cricket Chris Milne at War Memorial Park next season.

Jayasekara takes the reins from Scott McNaughton and comes with Level 3 accreditation and experience in Sri Lanka, England, India, UAE and Nepal.

He is also expected to slot into the First XI top order.

Plenty Valley recruit Chenutha Wickramasinghe in action for Cranbourne Eagles. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Plenty Valley president Darren Callahan was rapt to secure his signature.

“He applied for the role when we advertised … I’m sure he applied for a few so we’re very lucky to have landed him,” Callahan said.

“Raj has been here for 18 months after 15 years coaching abroad.

“He’s coached at the national level in Sri Lanka and is very well connected, he coached at an elite private school in Sri Lanka and kept in touch and hence a Sri Lankan flavour to our recruitment.

“He wants to play First XI cricket as well, we had Blacky (Simon Black) bowling fast to him in the nets and he’s still got it, he’s technically very sound and I think he’ll play a role at the top.”

Jayasekara’s connections sees several recruits come on board.

Chenutha Wickramasinghe and Sajana de Silva arrive from DDCA club Cranbourne Eagles.

Wickramasinghe hit 216 runs last season, while de Silva added 244 runs and 17 wickets as the Eagles reached the Turf 2 semi-finals.

Lahiru Opatha crosses from MPCA outfit Mt Eliza after a spectacular campaign that saw him amass 586 runs and 15 wickets to help his club reach the Peninsula grand final.

Nimesh Maddumage will bolster the Bats’ attack after 12 wickets for Footscray United in VTCA Division 1.

Former Bat Musa Hamza makes his return after spending several seasons with Premier Cricket battler Greenvale Kangaroos.

“Musa first played for us when he came out from Pakistan, he wanted to come back and every side needs a good leggie and he is very much that,” Callahan said.

“Chen and Saj are mates and were both coached by Raj back in Sri Lanka when they were lads, they’ve both been really good local cricketers.

“Chen is a top-order batsman, strong boy and Saj is a really good off-spinner.

“Rash is a friend of the other boys, he opened the batting in First Class cricket when he was 20 but did his ACL in his debut and has had a few years out of the game.

“He’s been playing in the Mornington Peninsula on hard wickets and is very keen to get back onto turf and we’re very excited about what he can do.

“Nimesh we anticipate will open the bowling with Blacky, he’s not quite as quick but a really solid player.”

Meanwhile, Ayres returns to the club where he played 157 matches for Bundoora-Old Paradians and Plenty Valley.

He played the 14th most games in VSDCA history, scoring 7374 runs – 14th most in history – and 591 wickets, one of only two men to have scored more than 5000 runs and taken 500 wickets.

Ayres was awarded association life membership at last month’s Holten Medal awards.

“Just to have Ayresy back around the nets is awesome,” Callahan said.

“He comes with a reputation, he’s a big strong, imposing bloke and I’m sure he’ll have the young boys in hand and some discipline at training is what we’re looking for.”

Daniel Heatley, James Plunkett and Javed Bolim all been reappointed as assistant coaches, while Chris Stevens is back as “net captain”.

Star all-rounder Simon Black has been named captain after an impressive 2023-24 campaign that saw him lead the club with bat (377 runs) and ball (24 wickets).

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“Blacky has been an awesome player for us with bat and ball,” Callahan said.

“He’s back in the nets, bowling fast and looking fit and trim and playing footy at Oakleigh Districts. He’s a wonderful leader and contributor.

“And Stevo, I rate it as the most important role in the club, basically he makes sure everyone gets a bat and ball in the appropriate nets.

“He’s a good, stern voice and makes sure the nets run well and it takes the pressure off the coaches to worry about who’s having a hit and who’s padding up.”