Collendina will be banking on its senior brigade and the natural progression of youth in this season’s Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A2 Grade competition.
While the Cobras haven’t had any major additions to their squad, they haven’t lost anyone either and with the likes of Corey Walter, Stan Grazotis, Nathan Frye and Jacob Gasior, can be a major player for the premiership.
Add the likes of Harrisyn Wingrave, who had a breakout season with the bat, including a double century, seamer Gus Peters and new-ball bowler Byron Hansford and Collendina can rightly feel confident about its chances.
“We’ll be pretty similar – we haven’t really lost anyone or haven’t picked anyone up, but hopefully the kids get a bit older again and a couple of them come on a bit,” coach Corey Walter said.
“I think Aidan Foard and Ollie Terhorst, Gus Peters – all these guys played ones the year before and were in and out of the side last year. So hopefully a couple of them can take the next step.”
Hansford came into the 1st XI towards the back end of last season and made an immediate impact with the ball.
Walter’s ability to bowl some overs of seam was impacted by elbow surgery just before the Christmas break, but said he will probably be rolling the arm over, particularly in the one-dayers. Spinners Grazotis and Gasior will bowl plenty of overs in 75-over cricket.
“I’ll be right to bowl a bit more this year, especially in the early games,” Walter said.
“We’ve got two pretty handy spinners, but obviously (we need to use) five bowlers in the one dayers, so I might have to bowl a bit early on.
“Stan doesn’t go for many runs and Gaz can take you a wicket. They’re two really good bowlers, so they’re good for us in the two-dayers.”
While Walter is coming off a 764-run season at an average of 109.14, Gasior’s promotion to open the batting towards the end of last season yielded scores of 51, 49 and 29 at a run a ball.
“He’s probably one that’s got to find that right tempo, like a few of the other guys,” Walter said.
“You don’t have to hit every ball for four, you just find the right balance, but once we moved him up to the top last year he was really good for us.”
Young quick Zach Muir got a taste of A Grade cricket last season and didn’t look at all out of place and will be in the mix come selection.
