AN optimistic atmosphere surrounds those at the Mil Lel Cricket Club as they prepare for Round 1 of the Mount Gambier and District cricket season this weekend.
Despite finishing fifth on the Barber Shield ladder last year, standout performances from the juniors within its ranks shone a positive light on the season.
That junior development is again a major focus for the club as it heads into its 2018-19 campaign.
With little change to the lineup, A Grade captain Craig Lock said the extra year of experience for the younger players has been invaluable.
“It’s pretty much the same starting 11 as we had last year,” he said.
“But obviously we have 12 more months into the kids and they are a bit more confident.
“We have filled three senior grades again which is nice and I think all the junior sides are filled up as well.”
Youngsters Ben Thiel and Tom Nieuwerkerk were both exceptional with ball in hand on the Barber Shield stage last year and will be looked to again for solid performances.
Thiel won the A Grade bowling award for Mil Lel in 2017-18, while Nieuwerkerk finished runner-up, despite both players being 16 at the time.
Team manager Michael Ashby is excited by the progress of the club’s juniors and looks forward to what the future holds.
“Junior development is a pretty big thing we have going at our club now,” he said.
“It is actually quite exciting to see these kids come up through the ranks.
“We have young Kaidyn Weber, he’s an Under 14 player still, but is holding his own in senior cricket really well.
“We expect him to start playing a few games throughout the year.
“And we have Shannon Megaw – he was in the B’s last year – coming up through.”
Weber in particular should see some A Grade action this season, as the Under 14 is already well decorated in the sport.
He won the national championship as a part of the Under 12 South Australian state team, while he is also part of the Under 14 Western Waves squad competing in the Victorian Premiers League.
With no losses to the A Grade side this year, it will be a perfect chance to start up where the team left off and hopefully work its way up the ladder.
“We’ll have hopefully Johnno (Jonathan Allcock) for a full year,” Lock said.
“He only played in the second half last year.”
So far Lock and Ashby said the team has looked good at training, with a mix of indoor and outdoor sessions at Mount Gambier High School.
With pitch maintenance at Frew Park, the two expect Mil Lel to be training back at the home venue by early November.
“The trainings we have had outdoors have been pretty good,” Lock said.
“We have had decent numbers at training and have had a good hit around.”
When asked who he expected to step up this season, Lock said it will likely be the same players who performed last year.
“Benny (Ben Thiel), Tommy (Tom Nieuwerkerk) and probably someone like Daniel Justin is always good,” he said.
“Justin won our batting last year and came runner-up in our best and fairest.
“He is a very handy cricketer.
“And guys like Josh Jantosh too, he made 100 last year against West.
“Blokes like that who are starting to make runs.
“We just hope it can continue on and get more consistent.”
With North Sportsman’s looming as a tough Round 1 opponent, Ashby is eager to take on last year’s runners-up.
“It might be tough, but it’s exciting,” Ashby said.
“We are looking forward to it.”
Lock also looks forward to the contest and said it is a good indicator of where the team is at early in the season.
“North and Penola are probably still the standout teams,” he said.
“You always want to see where you are at early on.”
