Subbies power Kew has some holes to fill for 2021-22 season
Reigning VSDCA club champion and grand finalist Kew has two big holes to fill when the new season begins. Who’s ready to step up?
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Kew has two large holes to fill ahead of the 2021-22 VSDCA season.
The reigning Subbies club champion and North-West group grand finalist has lost last season’s leading run-scorer Will Sheridan and leading wicket-taker Alistair Burge.
Sheridan smashed a 731 runs at an average of 56.23, including a competition record-equalling four centuries.
Burge claimed 29 wickets at 13.66, including a Subbies-best two five-wicket hauls, and departs with 54 scalps in just 26 First XI appearances.
Kew captain Chris Weeks said the pair would be difficult to replace on a number of levels.
“Obviously we’re disappointed to lose guys of that quality, more so as blokes more than anything,” he said.
“Burge, since he came to the club has fitted in really well, he’s been a great person to have around the place and ran the Blast for the club.
“Then on top of that his performances on the field … a bloke that takes two five-fors when you can only bowl eights overs is a remarkable effort.
“Shero was only here for one year, it was a good opportunity to finish now that he’s got two young kids, to play with his mates.”
Weeks said the club was well placed in terms of depth having won a maiden club championship with the First and Second XI both winning the minor premiership.
The likes of former Melbourne Premier Cricket captain Matt Brown will take on more responsibility at the top of the order.
Batsman James Clark and promising spinner Jack Carroll are highly rated at Victoria Park and will likely be given first crack.
“It gives opportunity to guys like Browny, who’s had a good chance to settle in at the club,” Weeks said.
“We say more of an opportunity but he got 500 runs last season, it was just Shero and Chalks were in the mid to high 700s.
“I expect big things from him this year and then myself, it gives me an opportunity to bat higher, Wildy and Hasto a bigger opportunity with the bat.
“(Clark) is the perfect example, every time he’s come into the ones he’s contributed.
“He’s definitely had experience at the level and I’ve got no doubt he’ll be able to take the next step when and if the opportunity presents itself.
“We’ve got Jack Carroll in the twos, who’s been developing really well as a left-arm orthodox spinner.
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“Chalks will get more of an opportunity with the ball to bowl his, I don’t even know what to call them.
Clark finished the home-and-away season as the North-West group Second XI leading run-scorer but endured a torrid finals campaign, finishing with 460 runs at 76.67.
Carroll collected 20 wickets at 14.35 last season and will fight Chalkley for the No.1 spin role.
Weeks expects Kew’s line-up to be otherwise stable following last season’s devastating grand final defeat to Werribee.
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