NEW Woodford skipper Nick Butters has a message for his teammates: calm down.
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Woodford enters today’s Warrnambool and District Cricket Association round needing an improved batting display after a shock loss to Russells Creek.
The Eels routed Creek for 97 but failed to capitalise with the willow, bundled out for 80 in a Twenty20 format they have dominated in recent seasons.
Butters, who has taken on the captaincy for the first time this season, said a lack of patience at the crease was behind the disappointing performance.
“It shouldn’t have been (hard). We were 30 after three or four overs. We should’ve been able to do it pretty easy,” he said.
“Guys rushed themselves, thought they’d get it done now instead of working the ones and twos and playing smart cricket.”
The lesson, reinforced at training this week, has been about realising 20 overs is time enough to build an innings.
“Once we lose a couple of wickets, we’ve got to build partnerships, steady the ship a little bit and have wickets in hand at the end,” Butters said.
The task is easier said than done.
Woodford faces reigning premier West Warrnambool at Bushfield Recreation Reserve in round two today.
Wesley-CBC, East Warrnambool-YCW and Port Fairy are also in the Merri conference and present tricky assignments in coming weeks.
“You’ve got a couple of teams that didn’t have a good year last year. East will improve and so will Creek,” Butters said.
“On last year you could say it’s the easy conference but I definitely think the lower clubs will improve.
“They’ve all got handy pick-ups.”
Butters, 20, has taken on the Eels’ captaincy having been a member of the leadership group for all but one of his seasons with the club.
The top-order batsman acknowledged the need to set an example with his performances but said he was not big on setting specific run targets.
“I want to keep improving every year. Whether it’s having a better average or making more runs, just keep improving from year to year,” he said.
“If I can make runs, the team will make runs and we can win games.”
In other Merri conference matches, Port Fairy hosts Wesley-CBC at Colledge Oval while Russells Creek welcomes East Warrnambool-YCW to Mack Oval.
Merrivale plays Dennington at Harris Street Reserve in the pick of the Hopkins conference action. Both opened the new season with impressive wins.
Allansford meets Brierly-Christ Church at Allansford Recreation Reserve and Nestles hosts Nirranda at Wenborn Oval.
