Tara Murray
Youth continues to be the focus for Lalor Stars in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association Money Shield.
Having lost a number of players in recent years, the Stars have had no choice but to give their younger players an opportunity.
Despite the return of a former coach and batting star Alex Jesensek, the Stars are even younger again this season.
Captain Ricky Mitacca said they had no option but to go with youth and were keen to see them develop for the future.
“From the players we’ve lost the last couple of years, people expected us to be down the bottom,” he said.
“We’ve had a decent start and won a couple of games and been in winning positions in all but one of our games.
“We’re all young kids. Some of them aren’t ready at the moment but we’re not in the spot for them not to play.”
Mitacca said the return of Jesensek was massive for the playing group. Jesensek has played for a number of teams in Melbourne’s north and represented Australia in indoor cricket.
“He hasn’t been at the club for a while,” he said. “It’s great for the young kids to have the opportunity to bat with him and see that experience to bat around him and talk to him.
On Saturday, the Stars made 205 against Montmorency as they were bowled out in the second last over.
Mitacca said the score was probably under par on that ground but it was a good total considering their start.
“We lost a wicket in the first over for a diamond duck and then last another one in the third over,” he said.
“We piled on a few runs and managed to get to 4-140 before crumbling late. Two hundred was okay but it would have been good to get a few more.
“We didn’t bat out our overs which was disappointing.”
Mitacca top scored with 61 while Adam Abbas made 43.
Mitacca said the aim for the group this season was to continue to get better and build as a group.
“We’re still trying to recruit a few more players,” he said. “Tom [Boddy] was in the twos. He is from Preston and it was his first game in a year.
“Hopefully he will eventually get through into the ones.”
The Stars will again be in action on Tuesday night in the second round of the Northern Region T20 competition against Rivergum.
Mitacca said their T20 side would be even younger again.
In other matches on Saturday, Laurimar was bowled out for 182 against Banyule, Bundoora United made 9-278 against Lower Eltham and Plenty is 0-7 in reply to Bundoora Park’s 266.
