It's been a long time between drinks - even more so with the premature end to winter sports due to COVID-19 restrictions.

With an influx of teams to the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association, there's bound to be a wave of new narratives surfacing in 2021-22.

The Standard has flagged some of the burning questions which may arise for fans of the competition.

1: If Russells Creek can get its top-order firing, will any another Warrnambool and District Cricket Association team be able to stop them winning another flag?

There's no question the talent is there in the top-order for Creek, but whether it can string together a strong patch of form is the question. One-day cricket doesn't typically favour batsmen as they're caught between going hard and batting time with Warrnambool's typically spongy outfields and slower turf pitches.

Cameron Williams is the Creekers' leader with the stick and the strength of his season will go a long way to determine the strength of the team's. Can Rukshan Weerasinghe add to his 437-run haul from this past season? The Sri Lankan averaged 21.9 this past campaign and is, by all accounts, hitting the ball well at training.

The reality is with the talent and depth in Creek's bowling ranks - Jimmy Elford, Matt Petherick, Blake Evans, Joe Kenna and Shiv Kumara all as key options - it will back itself to defend as well as any team in the competition.

2: Can West Warrnambool improve its one-day performances to find the form it generated in two-day cricket?

The Panthers were statistically the worst one-day cricket outfit in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association's division one grade this past season but the best two-day outfit.

Ben Threlfall and Alastair Templeton are arguably two of the best batsmen in the league and with support from Fletcher Cozens, Joe Nyikos and Ryan McArdle - recruit Jimmy Dalton will also play a role - talent is certainly not an issue.

Nyikos and Cozens are young but another year of growth and natural develop will mean they enter the summer stronger and more powerful than they were when the season finished in March.

Templeton flagged West would switch up its approach a fortnight ago and that change may be just the tonic the club needs to hit its straps in limited overs cricket. With no two-day cricket due to coronavirus concerns and a later start, the one-day format will be its bread and butter.

3: How will the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association's new clubs and identities fare in their inaugural seasons?

Intrigue surrounds Hawkesdale, a former Grassmere Cricket Association powerhouse, as it plots success in its first WDCA campaign. The Cats shifted leagues when the GCA decided to pull up stumps after a 75-year history in March.

While they'll initially feature in division two, the club is on the up across the board and promotion to division one would eventually be in its sights. How its players adapt to turf pitch cricket and different competition will be fascinating to see.

Age is on the club's side. Many of its players are aged under 30 and have lots of cricket on the horizon. Several other former GCA teams are also coming into the WDCA, albeit as new identities or mergers. Killarney has linked with East Warrnambool to become Southern Titans, Yambuk has merged with Wesley to become Wesley-Yambuk, Grassmere has joined Northern Raiders, Wangoom linked with Woodford to become North Warrnambool Eels and Woolsthorpe and Mailors Flat have become Spring Creek.

Northern Raiders - Purnim's new identity - won the division two grand final this past March and showed new clubs can make a mark. Hawkesdale is certainly capable of following suit but only time will tell.

Things will get even spicier if the WDCA decides to introduce promotion and relegation from next season as originally mooted.

4: Can the Mungean factor help Wesley-Yambuk become one of the WDCA's most thrilling young teams?

New coach, new beginning for freshly-merged outfit Wesley-Yambuk. Warrnambool and District Cricket Association icon Jason Mungean will guide the new outfit through its first season as a combined entity.

Hopes are high the proven coach - who has a track record of helping young players reach their potential - can help the development of the Beavers' kids.

Liam Couch has departed to Dennington and Jimmy Dalton has shifted to West Warrnambool, but Mungean is hopeful the rest of the list will commit to the cause.

The effect Mungean can have on players like Archie Bolden, Blake Rouse, Nick Blacker and Walker Owen will be intriguing to watch as the club vies to avoid another bottom-placed finish.

Alan Hansen once foolishly said "you'll never win anything with kids" - speaking to Sir Alex Ferguson's commitment to youth at Manchester United just before the Red Devils went on to become one of European soccer's most revered forces - and Wesley-Yambuk will be keen to again challenge that theory in 2021-22.

Keep an eye on Bolden, who impressed at under 17 country week under Mungean this past January.

5: Will Mark Murphy rediscover his best form in his return to Brierly-Christ Church's captaincy?

The gun all-rounder has x-factor, is ultra-efficient and will be hoping to push for his fourth Warrnambool and District Cricket Association cricketer of the year gong in 2021-22. Runs and wickets typically find their place next to Murphy's name in the scorebook and new coach Lachi Rooke predicted the the extra responsibility of captaincy would help him recapture his best touch.

An injury this past season against Dennington in round one was shocking luck and probably a relief for opposition but if he can find anywhere near his best, it'll cause major headaches for opponents as the Bulls chase another finals berth.

Murphy's form and superstar factor will be key to their chances.

6: No Jason Perera but can Port Fairy inspire its players to cover his run and wickets output?

Not going to sugarcoat this - losing a player as talented as Jason Perera hurts.

The 28-year-old played five seasons at Avery's Paddock and emerged as one of the best imports in Warrnambool and District Cricket Association history. He returned to Sri Lanka in March to be married and won't return for 2021-22.

But hope isn't lost for Port Fairy. The Pirates found their mojo as coach Brian Medew and captain Alex Jennings took the reins and were one of the surprise packets of the competition in 2020-21.

If the Pirates can recapture that form - even without Perera - they'll be a dangerous proposition. Jennings' emergence as one of the premier all-rounders of the competition was a major boost, as was the signing of opener Lachie Green.

With Perera and opening bowler Sam Wilson departing, it will cause a shake-up in the bowling department but Port Fairy will nonetheless have a strong gameplan under Medew's guidance.

7: Are Nestles' batting woes a thing of the past?

Bowling-wise, Factory had no issues whatsoever this past season but runs were hard to come by. A lot of reliance fell on Geoff Williams' shoulders but new skipper Jake Hetherington is determined to make sure Nestles is a more formidable force on offence.

Only bottom-placed Wesley-CBC scored less than the Reid Oval-based club in 2020-21 but a return to their spiritual home - which has undergone a multi-million dollar renovation - will be a major shot in the arm for Hetherington's side.

Coach Alex Strauch is a dedicated operator and will combine with Hetherington to do all he can to ensure Nestles climbs the ladder.

Time will tell if a longer pre-season and more batting practice can translate to more runs at the crease when things get serious.

8: Will Merrivale's emphasis on fielding, bowling and being stingy in the field pay off?

The Tigers were committed to reducing the amount of leaked runs in the field under Justin Lynch this past season and this focus could pay major dividends in a season of limited overs cricket.

Merrivale was undefeated in Twenty20 cricket but only won three of nine one-day fixtures. Can they hit their straps? An emphasis on fielding will certainly go a long way.

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