Hats off to McCalman

Merinda Park opener Daniel McCalman, pictured here earlier in the season in a one-dayer against Cardinia, is the Premier division’s leading run-scorer so far in season 2017/18. 173656 Picture: ROB CAREW

By Russell Bennett

He has scored well in excess of 4000 runs over the past decade – the bulk of those in the first XI – and yet Merinda Park Premier grade opener Daniel McCalman remains one of the West Gippsland Cricket Association’s most unheralded players.
In many ways he’s an unassuming gentleman of the game, but he also has a steely determination and a competitive spirit that few in the competition could match.
McCalman is currently the Premier division’s leading run-scorer with 250 at an average of 50 in what is a particularly trying campaign for the Cobras – they’re yet to win a game through their first five rounds and seem locked in a relegation battle with Emerald.
But McCalman remains as stoic and focussed as ever at the top of the order – earning the highest of praise from one of the WGCA’s most accomplished players, Kooweerup captain-coach Mark Cooper.
“Danners is a star, and more than that he’s a great person,” Cooper said about his Mid Year Cricket Association team mate.
“He always plays for the team and he should be in Country Week contention every season.
“He’s one of the top five fielders in the competition too, which tends to get overlooked.”
Cooper said McCalman’s temperament at the crease allowed him to stand up against any bowling attack – no matter how imposing it may seem.
“I’ve got no doubt he could give District (like Vic Premier) cricket a real crack too and stand up in that higher standard,” Cooper said.
“He’s got no ego – he just plays.
“He’s the type of player you could build a team around and I think he’s a potential leader too because he does set a really good example for the rest of the boys to follow.”
Merinda Park Premier skipper Andrew Martin cut straight to the chase when describing just how highly McCalman is rated internally.
“He’d be in the top three to five batsmen in the competition,” he said.
“He could be a far better player in a better side but what he’s doing in a side that is struggling is just phenomenal.
“He’s got a burning desire to take his game to the next level and with a number of really good players leaving the club he probably knew now was his time to stand up as a Merinda Park player.”
Martin praised McCalman’s mental approach at the crease, and his ability to adapt to whatever the situation called for against the brunt of the competition’s best bowling attacks.
“His mental toughness is amazing,” he said.
“He’s probably the best I’ve played with like that – he just doesn’t bite back.
“He just knows his role, plays it perfectly and sums up the situation.
“He’s so unassuming that you could probably walk past him in the street and not notice him but what he’s done for this club will never be forgotten.”