VSDCA 2021-22: Emerging names tipped to spearhead Balwyn’s improvement

Balwyn coach Clinton Kennon says youth hold the key to his club’s improvement in season 2021-22. Here’s who.

Balwyn’s Luca Gambell is one of a long line of emerging names who hold to key to an improved season in 2021-22 according to the coach. Picture: Julian Smith

Balwyn will look to its emerging talent to help lift it up the ladder this Subbies season.

The Tigers finished 12th in 2020-21 with a 3-10 win-loss record, and coach Clinton Kennon believes his swag of young guns are ripe to spearhead the improvement in the North/East division.

“When I took over (as coach) … in year one it was just getting back to what the Balwyn Cricket Club was all about, year two was to land a recruit which we did with ‘Fitzy’ (Lachlan Fitzpatrick) to get him back, and now some of these kids will be in their third season of cricket.

“The big improvement this year I think has got to come from the likes of Luca Gambell, who’s now going into his third season, Dom Greene who’s now going to be in his third or fourth season … Adi Narayana has come back from Premier Cricket (in 2019).”

Gambell finished third in the First XI for runs with 238, Greene took 18 wickets at an average of 22.33 to go with 98 runs while Adi Narayana topped the run-scoring with 250.

Kennon confirmed UK import and quick Harry Dixon would be returning to lead the bowling attack, after topping the bowling for the Tigers last season with 18 wickets at an average of 18.17.

The Tigers will also invest in their junior program.

“We’re more generating a lot of talent through our youth program … Jack Lyndon – he’s only 16, 17 but he played a little bit of Dowling (Shield) at Northcote last year. He’s a real talent – good bowler, pretty handy with the bat and good in the field.

“Probably the other one on the radar is young wicket keeper-bat, Jon Mummery … they’re the two that we’re really excited about.”

Kennon also believes pressure from the Second XI is paramount to his group’s improvement this season.

“The expectation for us is to constantly improve,” Kennon said.

“It’s just constant improvement from our young playing group is what we’re looking for, and more guys from the twos pushing into the ones to give the guys in the ones the pressure to perform.

“That’s starting to happen to a degree … just staying in the game for longer now, that’s what they’ve got to do.”