See who made the cut in our Subbies Team of the Year 2020-21
It was a season like no other and Leader’s cricket scribes have the unenviable challenge of picking a VSDCA First XI. See who made the cut in our top team here.
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What a superb season of Subbies cricket we’re witnessing.
While finals are still to be completed, kudos goes to the VSDCA, clubs and players for getting through the home-and-away season without any major hiccups.
Such has been the quality of cricket, the Leader cricket scribes had a ton of trouble narrowing a field of stars to a combined final XI, plus an emerging player.
Some are end-of-season awards regulars – such as four-time Val Holten Medallist Jacob Thorne – while others have come from the clouds.
Check out our team below, in batting order, and have your say in the comments.
WILL SHERIDAN (Kew)
Who would have guessed a tweaked back before Kew’s Round 1 clash against Plenty Valley would see Sheridan finish the season as the top run-scorer in all of Subbies cricket (despite playing two fewer games) with 605 at an average of 60.5? Slated to bat No. 3 before a mishap in the warm-up, he was promoted to open and has piled on the runs ever since. Sheridan brought up his fourth century of the season in Round 12 and needs one more to break the competition record.
RICKY DAMIANO (Brighton) (Capt)
The Tonners captain has had another outstanding season, topping the South-East section run chart with 571 at 63.44, made with a strike rate of 105.4. He hit 127 in Round 5 against Noble Park and three rounds later cracked 110 not out against Elsternwick to claim the legendary Val Holten’s Sub-District record for the most First X1 centuries – 20, 10 for Caulfield and 10 for Brighton. Since he’s taken the Tonners to their first finals appearance since 2013-14, he can captain this team.
ANDREW CHALKLEY (Kew)
Starting the season in mid-season form, Chalkey smashed 105 in the opening-round win over Kew, then followed it up with 70 (Altona), 114 (Taylors Lakes) and 87 (Coburg). While the hot pace slowed in the second half of the season, he still finished as the second-highest scorer in the entire VSDCA with 601 runs at an average of 54.64, pipped by teammate Sheridan in the final round. While brother Tom is the bowler in the family, Andrew’s spin should not be underestimated as he claimed 11 wickets at 9.36.
JOSH HAHNEL (Yarraville)
Despite Yarraville not making finals this season, Hahnel’s thirst for runs cannot be ignored. The opener finished third in the North-West group run-scoring chart and fourth overall in the VSDCA with 545 runs at an average of 45.42, eclipsing his previous best of 490 from last season. Started the season with a bang, scoring two tons in the opening three rounds and returned after Christmas with consecutive half-centuries. A rising star of the competition.
CALLUM NANKERVIS (Plenty Valley)
Finished fifth in the North-West group for runs but gets the nod over Werribee’s Sean Dean thanks to his all-round abilities. After a down year last season, Nankervis returned to his matchwinning ways in 2020-21 with 482 runs (averaging 40.17), including a drought-breaking 109 in Round 3, and 17 wickets (at 18.88) to inspire Plenty Valley back to the finals. Also the only man in the North-West group with multiple unassisted run outs.
JACOB THORNE (Caulfield)
Consistent with his right-hand batting and off-spin bowling, the Caulfield skipper has put together the type of numbers that could land him a fifth Val Holten Medal: 364 runs at 36.4 and 24 wickets at 12.7. He’s done something in most matches, getting a 30 or a 40 or snaffling two or three wickets, bits and pieces adding up to a sterling contribution in a season when individual heroics have been scarce (unless you’re a Kew batsman!). And as captain he’s guided the Fielders to yet another high finish. At Sub-District level, Thorne is a champion from head to toe.
RORY COLLINS (Plenty Valley) (WK)
The Bats wicketkeeper-batsman had arguably his finest season since joining the club in 2018-19. Collins scored 420 runs at an average of 38.18 – No. 1 among all VSDCA keepers – and eighth most in the North-West group. Once he reached double figures he scored 32 or more in seven of eight innings, falling for a single-figure score on just four occasions. He claimed 13 catches behind the stumps and showed his reflexes with six stumpings. Collins also filled in as First XI captain when Michael Rogneda was unavailable.
MICHAEL SPLATT (Oakleigh)
Oakleigh will have no more important player in the finals campaign than its venerable all-rounder, who has played in five pennants and five T20 titles. Splatt took 23 wickets at 9.5 in the home-and-away matches, operating with an economy rate of 2.72 and with Alexander Jones forming the best new-ball combination in Subbies. He can open the bowling in this team and also serve as a floating batsman, to be sent in when the score needs a tickle-on. He’s a dangerous customer to be walking out when the ball has lost its shine and the bowlers a bit of their puff. Splatt is a great Subbies cricketer, and a fellow who always meets success with a modest smile.
NISHAL PERERA (Plenty Valley)
A superb return to his junior club after a stint with Premier Cricket outfit Essendon. Perera took at least one wicket in every game this season and finished with 26 scalps, equal top across the VSDCA, at an average of 13.62. The off-spinner saved arguably his best performance of the season for last with 4-23 and an unbeaten 72 against Werribee to pip Kew’s Alistair Burge to the frontline spinning position. Perera was also dangerous with the bat, scoring 257 runs at 25.7.
SAM KIMBER (Box Hill)
The medium-pacer must count as one of the success stories of the season. Darting the ball off the deck, he captured a joint VSDCA-best 26 wickets at 14.4 to help his team into the finals …. good going for a player who spent most of last season in the Second XI and who previously couldn’t get a game for Mt Waverley. He clearly thrived under the captaincy of Ryan Webster.
HAO LAI (Taylors Lakes)
In his first full season of First XI cricket, what a story this fellow is. While Taylors Lakes didn’t win a game this season Lai finished the campaign as the joint top wicket-taker in the entire VSDCA with 26 scalps at an average of 12.27. His 19 maidens was also fourth best across the competition. The left-arm paceman’s ability to swing the ball both ways was a major weapon as he claimed at least one wicket in all but the opening round.
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12TH MAN: RODNEY BIRD (Ormond)
The left-arm paceman joined Ormond in 2013-14. In his eight seasons he’s had hauls of 33 wickets, 20, 35, 46, 20, 31, 27 and 23; that’s 235 scalps, marking him out as one of the best quickies in the competition. The one-day format probably didn’t suit him this season – he’d rather bowl 18 overs than eight – but he broke through often with the new ball, kept it tight (economy rate of 2.7) and averaged 10.2 for his 23 wickets. He’s the most over-qualified 12th man in Team of the Year history. But with all that experience he’ll stir a nice cordial.
RISING STAR: JOSH AGAR (Caulfield)
The 18-year-old right-hander will be among the favourites for the VSDCA annual award as best young player. Going in first, he’s hit 377 runs at 31.4, making more than 20 on 10 occasions. “He’s already a good player and he’s going to get better. He’s got shots all around the ground. He’s a proper batsman,’’ Caulfield captain Jacob Thorne fizzed after the youngster’s 75 not out against Box Hill in Round 3.
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