Greenvale Kangaroos are looking to make the most of an off-season reprieve in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s senior division.
A late-season revival wasn’t enough for the Kangaroos to avoid a bottom-two finish and land in the relegation zone last season.
But with Hoppers Crossing moving to the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association, the Kangaroos managed to avoid the drop.
Kangaroos captain Jonathon Kent said he wanted to make the most of their good fortune.
“We’re very excited to be staying up in senior division,” he said.
“Apart from a few results that didn’t go our way late in the season, we had a pretty good second half.
“We take responsibility for the bad start to the year, but it’s good news that we get to stay up in top grade.”
Even before learning of its relegation reprieve, the club had been busy on the recruiting front.
“An ex-junior player, Tallan Wright, has come back to the club after playing Premier Cricket most recently with Footscray Edgewater,” Kent said. “He’s a massive inclusion and is an opening bowler and top-order batsman.
“Peter Manser is also coming back to play in the local side after being at Woodend last season.
“It’s good to have some high-quality fast bowlers this year, which we struggled a bit with last summer.”
Kent said Wright and Manser would work well with the competition’s leading wicket-taker last season, spinner Chathura Darshana.
“We haven’t lost anyone from last year; they’re all still playing.
“Sameen Kandanearachchi, who scored a hundred in the final game of the year, is coming back from Sri Lanka and will be our wicketkeeper again.
“A few young kids are coming through and we’re looking forward to seeing some of them eyeing off spots in the seniors.
“The premier side has been fantastic for the development of the younger kids. They have been training for three months already.”
A good start to the season is the key this year, according to Kent.
The Kangaroos open the season on Saturday against Tullamarine.
“On paper, we’re a strong side with bat and ball, but it takes a lot of hard work.
“The big focus is getting a strong start to the year and being really competitive before Christmas.
“Our training numbers have been pretty healthy with only a couple of players taken up with local footy.
“Last year, after making the semi-finals, I think it was thought it was just going to happen. It derailed us.
“We want to make the most of our second chance in senior division.”
