MORTLAKE skipper Todd Lamont will spearhead South West Cricket’s chase for regional Twenty20 glory.
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South West Cricket (SWC) officials have announced Lamont as captain of the 13-member representative team which will contest division one at the Western Waves Festival of Cricket.
Boorcan batsman Matt Boyle has the reins of the 13-member division two team for the tournament at Hamilton on November 30 to December 2.
Team manager Keith Baker said he believed SWC had strong claims in both divisions.
But, like in all Twenty20 competitions, he said the teams would need luck.
“Sometimes it goes your way and other times it doesn’t. That’s what the game is like,” he said.
“Warrnambool beat us by a couple of runs last year in the first game. If that had have gone our way, we would’ve been on our way.
“I try and get the best from the boys. Nothing beats success. Once you get a bit of success, like we have had at Country Week, people tend to stay around and put their hands up.”
Baker said a disciplined bowling performance was crucial to winning Twenty20 cricket.
“Slow bowling is the key, I reckon. It’s harder to hit the slow ball than the ball coming on to you,” he said.
“We have some good, solid hitters in the team. Hopefully a few of them can deliver for us.”
The Festival of Cricket features a division two competition for the first time, in place of the former under 21 grade.
The change is to ensure smaller associations such as Casterton and West Wimmera can be competitive against similar-standard opposition.
SWC’s division two team features mostly under 21 cricketers as selectors seek to blood emerging talent.
“We’re trying to bring a few young fellas through that,” Baker said.
“They’ve won (the under 21s) the last two years. That shows how strong the young fellas have been.”
afawkes@standard.fairfax.com.au