Premier Cricket: Luke Shelton to miss Casey South Melbourne’s elimination final after suspension

Casey South Melbourne has been dealt a huge blow on the eve of the finals with their captain banned for umpire dissent. Here’s how they plan to cover his absence.

Premier Cricket: Northcote v Casey-South Melbourne. Casey South-Melbourne player Luke Shelton. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Casey South Melbourne’s quest for a third grand final appearance in four seasons has been dealt a significant blow, with captain Luke Shelton rubbed out ahead of its must-win elimination final.

Swans coach Will Carr conceded it was “not ideal” to lose the fierce leader for the clash against Dandenong.

“It’s one of those things you’ve just got to move on from, we can’t change it, we just move forward and look to cover that loss,” Carr said.

“We’ve got leaders in our group and in our team, experienced players. While we’d love to have ‘Shelts’, we feel we’ve got the experience in our group and in our leadership to cover it and not be bogged down by it.”

Shelton pleaded guilty to showing dissent at an umpire’s decision and conduct contrary to the spirit of cricket at the Cricket Victoria tribunal on Tuesday, and was handed a one-match ban, while spearhead quick Nathan Lambden escaped suspension after pleading guilty to showing dissent at an umpire’s decision.

The incidents occurred in Casey South Melbourne’s round 20 clash with Carlton, which the Swans narrowly lost by two runs, having needed three runs to win with two wickets in hand.

Casey bowler Nathan Lambden and his captain Luke Shelton talk tactics. The pair fronted the CV tribunal on Tuesday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“In the end the result had no bearing on the ladder position for us or them,” Carr said of the match.

“But to push them all the way, whilst we didn’t get the win, it’s a really good hitout going into finals.”

Ash Chandrasinghe played a strong hand at the top of the order against the Blues to finish with a 168-ball 81. The knock took his Premier Cricket run tally for the season past 500, and he is averaging a touch below 50 with the bat.

Chandrasinghe, who has played 13 Shield games for Victoria, will be entrusted with the Casey South Melbourne captaincy duties against Dandenong this weekend in Shelton’s absence.

Aged just 23, it will be the first time he has captained the Swans.

“Ash has evolved, not only as a cricketer but as a leader and he’s got an astute cricket brain,” said Carr, who is in his fourth season at the helm of the club.

“He’s also got plenty of support around him in experienced players with Dev Pollock and a whole host of others; they’ve played a lot of cricket at this level.”

Ashley Chandrasinghe at the crease for Casey South Melbourne. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Carr said the finals would bring the best out of Chandrasinghe, who hasn’t quite replicated the dizzying heights of last season where he produced 1322 runs across the board, but has still managed a pair of centuries.

“Whilst he hasn’t got the runs that he’d ideally like he’s still got a pretty good body of work this season,” Carr said.

“He’s got good scores, these are the type of games that players like Ash excel in. I think the challenge of finals will see the best in him, that’s for sure.”

Chandrasinghe and the Swans will face another youthful player on the rise come Saturday in Dandenong’s Shobit Singh.

In his first year at the Panthers, 22-year-old Singh has been in blistering touch to crunch 907 first-grade runs at an average of 75.

Carr said the Swans would tackle Singh as they would any other Dandenong batter.

Toppling Dandy dynamo Shobit Singh will be a tall task for the Swans. Picture: Josh Chadwick.

“Like all players, if you can put all balls in the right area and test their technique for long enough, you inevitably create chances,” the former Victorian quick said.

“That’ll be no different for him or any of their other top four or five batters.”

If Casey South Melbourne is to break its longstanding premiership drought – with the club’s last flag dating back to 1967-68 when it was South Melbourne – it will have done so after overcoming its toughest route to the grand final yet under Carr.

In both the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons, the Swans finished fourth and toppled the minor premier to earn a home preliminary final.

This season, they have to come from seventh.

“Our best cricket’s good enough, it’s just about bringing it on the day when it matters,” Carr said.

“We’re in a good space as a group and if we bring our best this weekend hopefully it’ll be good enough.”

“We’re probably around the mark to where we were last year … it’s not like we’re far off the top four.

“I think we’re playing a similar level of cricket to last season.”