Lakes Entrance Cricket Club is eyeing off a positive 2018/19 Bairnsdale Cricket Association season.
After the absence of Scott Mundy the club has elected a new “A” grade captain in Englishman, Mark Hopgood.
Lakes Entrance Cricket Club president, Ryan Hooper, is looking forward to seeing what Hopgood can bring to the side.
“Scotty didn’t play with us for the second half of the season last year but his experience will be missed,” Hooper said.
“Mark is a fresh face and has lived in Australia for roughly seven or eight years.
“He played in Melbourne for some time and has lived in Lakes for about two years now.
“He played a few games with us last year. He is just a fresh face with some new ideas.”
Lakes Entrance will also be looking to blood some of its junior and senior players that have been waiting in the ranks from the lower grades such as “B” grade and under 16.
“This year we will probably have a few new fresh faces to the club, he said.
“While we might lose a couple it gives us a really good opportunity to get some games into the guys that have spent a bit of time in “B” grade and the under 16s in the last couple of years.
“Our under 16s have performed pretty well over the past couple of years and they made a semi final last year and there is a lot of good cricketers in there.
“We will be looking to give them more chances this year and there are a couple of players that have already played “A” grade and hopefully they can become a part of it again this year.”
There will be no two-day matches in “B” grade this season with all matches instead being played in the one-day format and Hooper agrees with the decision.
“I think it is a good thing,” he said.
“We’ve pushed for it over three years and we were pleased to see it come into affect this year and we feel that we will be able to keep more guys interested in playing “B” grade cricket, particularly the players who are at the end of their careers and those who want to play “B” grade cricket but aren’t completely committed.
“A second day game to either Meerlieu or Glenaladale when the result’s already been decided can often be a challenge in getting players there.
The club will field an “A”, “B” and under 16 side this season with Kevin Watson the captain of the “B” grade.
Last year the “A” grade side finished seventh while the “B” grade finished sixth.
Despite not making the “A” grade finals Lakes Entrance made it through to the semi final in the BSCC Cup.
PICTURED: Lakes Entrance Cricket Club president, Ryan Hooper, is looking forward to the 2018/19 Bairnsdale Cricket Association season.
