SOUTH West Cricket power Mortlake is familiar with the grand final stage but two of its emerging players will experience division one’s big stage for the first time on Saturday.
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Isaac Wareham and Will Kain will represent the Cats, who are chasing a sixth premiership in seven seasons, against Heytesbury Rebels.
Mortlake captain Todd Lamont said Wareham and Kain deserved their chance.
Wareham, who is also a TAC Cup-listed footballer with Greater Western Victoria Rebels, is a multiple Western Waves represenative.
“Isaac is still only young and started in division one when he was 13 to get a taste of it,” he said.
“He is 16 now and this is the first year he’s cemented his spot in the team. He’s quite a valuable player.
“He’s got a bit more confidence at the crease. He’s always been a good fielder.”
Kain has returned to the Mortlake line up in the latter stages of the season after finishing school in Ballarat in 2017.
“Will is a lower order bat and bowls off-spin,” Lamont said.
Mortlake has beaten Heytesbury three out of the four times they’ve played this season.
But Lamont is wary of a side the Cats “get along with socially”.
“They have quite a few players in form – (Simon) Harkness has scored a lot of runs this year and made four 100s,” he said.
“They bat really deep. Even if you get him out there are players to come like (Jeff) Rosolin, (Travis) Brown and (Michael) Clements. Bowling-wise, they are quite disciplined in the field.”