GRASSMERE Cricket Association captain Chris Bant is urging batsmen to take a composed approach into the Western Waves Festival of Cricket.
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Grassmere is contesting the Twenty20 tournament this weekend for the first time in years and has its sights set on a long-awaited division two triumph.
The side has little idea how it will fare on the regional stage, but Bant was encouraged by the calibre of players who had made themselves available.
The top-order batsman said “little things everywhere” were crucial in Twenty20 cricket. But most important was a positive attitude at the crease.
“With the batting, you can’t afford to panic. A lot of people think Twenty20 you’ve got to hit them over the fence from the start,” he said.
“You get 120 balls. If we can score off 90 or 100 of them we’re going to make a reasonable score.
“Not many people can come out from the first ball and hit them over the fence so you’ve got to score off as many as you can.
“With the bowling, you can’t bowl down leg side or wide of off stump, or too short. You’ve got to bowl to your field.
“The first six overs when you’re only allowed two out are pretty crucial. You’ve got to bowl to where they are.” Bant admitted his men were entering the unknown given their lengthy absence from the Festival of Cricket.
“I think the side is pretty good. We don’t really have that much idea what we’re coming up against,” he said.
“All we can do is play to our ability and if that’s good enough, so be it. The only people who have pulled out have had pretty genuine excuses.
“It’s obviously hard being three hours away and two nights for people with families. But I’m pretty happy with the list we’ve got.”
Grassmere plays division one title favourite Warrnambool and District in its first match today, at Brim Recreation Reserve.
The players will travel to Donald for their remaining round-robin matches, against South West and Wimmera-Mallee 2.
Bant, vice-captain Murray Habel, Brendan Chatfield, Sam McKinnon and Ben Julius headline a deep batting line-up. Paceman Nathan Shand and Luke Ryan will take the new ball while leg-spinner Paddy Mahony and off-spinner Isaac Malone are slow options. Bant hoped the squad members would use the weekend to press their claims for Bendigo Country Week selection in January.
“There are a few younger blokes in the team this weekend,” he said.
“Hopefully they can put their hands up and go pretty well, handle a bit of extra pressure at the higher standard.”
South West will also contest division two at the Festival of Cricket, with Boorcan batsman Matt Boyle at the helm.
The squad, largely a development outfit, meets Wimmera-Mallee 2, Grassmere and West Wimmera, fortuitiously avoiding a division one opponent.
afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au
