WEST Warrnambool has put faith in a familiar face to lead it back up the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association ladder.
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The Panthers have announced Michael Townsend as their captain/coach for the 2015-16 season.
Townsend has played all his cricket at West Warrnambool save for a two-season stint, in 2012-13 and 2013-14, when he was captain/coach at East Warrnambool-YCW.
The experience away from home is one Townsend believes will hold him in good position in his leadership role with the Panthers.
“I learnt a lot during those couple of years at East Warrnambool,” Townsend said.
“It gave me a different view on the game.
“It wasn’t just worrying about what I was doing, I had to be across what everyone else was up to.
“I had to step up and it made me mature a bit more as a cricketer.”
Townsend will have some wise heads to help him along the way with Micheal Threlfall and Alastair Templeton his assistant coaches.
The Panthers have lost batsman Josh Campbell, who has moved to Geelong.
On the plus side recruits coming into the club include Englishman Ben Parker, a top-order batsman, and all-rounders Matt Fairhill and Matt O’Neil.
Townsend is hoping this improved depth will help push his team towards a finals berth.
“I am pretty confident we can make finals, the good thing is we will bat all the way down which will make us a tough team to play against,” he said.
“Our bowling is also looking strong so I think we can take a lot of wickets.”
Townsend expects Templeton and Threlfall to lead the batting with Parker also shaping as a key player, having contested a similar standard of cricket in the UK.
He said Simon Johnson would again be a key player with the ball, as would Ben Threlfall.
In 2013-14 the Panthers were division one premiers. But they dropped down to fifth in the Merri conference last season with seven wins and eight losses.
Already plenty of hard work has been put in to ensure West Warrnambool is one of the big improvers.
“We started training in August and numbers have been really good,” Townsend said.
“There is a really good vibe around the club, everyone is excited and looking forward to a big season.
“Getting a good start to the season is always really important.
“If we can get on the board with some early wins then that would set us up.”
The Warrnambool and District Cricket Association begins on October 10.
The Panthers have a tough start to the season which includes a first-up encounter against Allansford. This will be an away game at McLean Oval.