DENNINGTON will unveil a rejuvenated batting lineup this summer as it works to reverse its run-scoring woes.
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The Standard can reveal Sri Lankan nationals Damith Dewage and Theranga Fernando have returned to the kennel while countryman Telge Peiris has also joined from Flemington.
Peiris blasted 412 runs and snared 39 wickets n the Mercantile Cricket Association's top-grade this past season.
The trio will link up with recruit Luke Cody, who has joined from West Warrnambool, and Shannon Beks, who is expected to feature more prominently after posting three games in 2019-2020.
I think whatever we do, we'll improve on that again. We'll have those five or six who didn't play for us last year available this year.
- Dustin Drew
Dogs coach Dustin Drew said the additions changed the complexion of his top order.
"Those four or five guys can probably bat in the top five and when you throw me in, our top six or seven will look completely different," he said.
"It might take a while to jell but we have a tough first couple of weeks in that we're playing Brierly-Christ Church and Woodford, the two grand finalists, so you'll get found out pretty quickly (if you're not switched on).
"We think we've probably recruited as well as any team in the competition."
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Drew said batting was a targeted area of improvement in the off-season.
"I think we made the least runs of any side in the competition last season but conceded less than some of the top teams," he said.
"You've got to be a realist and (address that) moving forward."
"We probably didn't play with confidence last year and when you're in that mindset you're always worried you're going to get out.
"If you look at the top teams from last year, Woodford has Nick Butters, West Warrnambool has Ben Threlfall, Brierly had Mark Murphy, the teams that had run-scorers played off at the end of the year.
"I've been playing cricket in Warrnambool a long time and what you see is that teams who can make 160 will always go close to winning games.
"We saw in the grand final a couple of years ago that a team can make 100 and still win the flag. Compare that to Melbourne, where you have to make at least 250 to win, and that's because they're playing on bowling greens with full-time curators.
"We have volunteers who are doing their best to produce a good wicket."
Drew said Dennington's first clash of the season against Brierly-Christ Church was a litmus test.
"Both sides start on zero points. You'd imagine they'll be thereabouts again at the end of the year and have some great young players. Campbell Love, (Damon) Dews, (Luke) Wilson and Mark Murphy," he said.
"I think whatever we do, we'll improve on that again. We'll have those five or six who didn't play for us last year available this year.
"Last time we played them, we beat them in the (Twenty20) grand final. I think we'll improve again (this season)."
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