Subbies Cricket: How Balwyn coach plans to close the gap on South-East rivals

It was a case of ‘almost, but not quite’ for Balwyn last season in the VSDCA South-East group with a number of close finishes, but coach Clinton Kennon explains how he plans to bridge the divide in season 2020-21...

Balwyn’s Lachlan Fitzpatrick will be a welcome return from Monash. Picture: Hamish Blair

Balwyn coach Clinton Kennon is confident his charges can push up the South-East ladder this season after it was left to rue a number of close finishes in 2019-20.

The Tigers finished in 13th position last season which prompted a thorough review of the campaign.

“We analysed the season hard last year,” Kennon said.

“We lost six games by either under 10 runs or a wicket here or there, so the season could have been a lot different and we weren’t that far away, we just felt that some runs were probably chasing a couple of times and probably let ourselves go with some bowling in a couple of games.”

“Other than that we were pretty consistent with the group that we had, it’s just the improvement out of those kids that played last year … there’s some kids that have now got one or two years’ experience in the ones, we’re looking for them.”

The Tigers will enter the upcoming campaign buoyed by the return of off-spinner and 2016-17 premiership skipper Lachie Fitzpatrick after two seasons with Premier outfit Monash Tigers/Richmond, where he took 39 wickets. He brings a wealth of knowledge of the club’s younger brigade having coached the Craig Shield side while in the top-flight.

“His knowledge of the kids coming through has been great – some of those kids who’ve played in the Craig Shield under him are probably going to be playing some cricket with him which is even better,” Kennon said.

The club has managed to retain English import Harry Dixon but has lost spin-bowling all-rounder George Drissel who is unable to return to Australia due to coronavirus travel restrictions, while paceman Alex Young has retired.

Balwyn bowler Alex Young has called it a day. Picture: AAP/Chris Eastman

Kennon said in closing the gap on his side’s close finishes he’ll look to former Premier batsman Adi Narayana who the Tigers injected into the First XI last year, along with a host of young guns.

“He averaged 30 but that’s about his top score as well so we’re asking him this year to start averaging 45-50 and turn some of those scores into some bigger ones,” Kennon said.

“Even though it’s still one-day cricket, there’s still enough opportunity to score runs and then it’s just asking some of those younger players we’ve had – Luca Gamble, Vihaan Narayana, Dom Greene is an experienced cricketer now, to just make that step up and become solid First XI citizens for us.

“Obviously we can improve and that’s what we want to do.”

Balwyn opens its 2020-21 season against Bayswater on Saturday, November 21 at Bayswater Oval.