By RUSSELL BENNETT
THOUGH it was hardly a case of ‘mission accomplished’ for this year’s WGCA Warriors’ Country Week team, the side did come away from the annual carnival with plenty of positives to build on for 2015.
Squad member and selector Simon Parrott said although the side didn’t achieve its ultimate goal of winning the Division 3 crown – winning just one of its four preliminary matches – he was “extremely proud” of the group.
The Warriors entered Country Week as the only team in their division made up of players who don’t regularly play on turf wickets and Parrott acknowledged it was a disadvantage. But he added: “I was really pleased to see the guys adjust their games the way they did”.
“The playing group was clearly a very close one – they’re a great bunch of cricketers but they’re all great blokes too,” he said, adding that the nucleus of the side was keen to reform for another crack at Country Week glory next summer.
“To lose guys of the quality of Aaron Avery and Tom Hussey beforehand does put you on the back foot a bit – we really missed Aaron’s seam bowling, for example – but next year we’ll have the best available to select from again,” Parrott said.
“Those guys are all keen to come back.”
Parrott praised the all-around efforts of Warriors’ co-captain Cal O’Hare, who scored 188 runs – which included three half-centuries – and took 10 wickets from his four games.
“He was just outstanding – he stood up on every occasion for us,” Parrott said.
“He just followed on from his form (playing for Tooradin) against us (Cardinia) on the Saturday and he was exceptional with both bat and ball.”
But O’Hare was far from the Warriors’ lone shining light, with star Pakenham batsman Chris Smith scoring a memorable century on day four against Goulburn Murray. Fittingly, he belted his 110 at Northcote’s Bill Lawry Oval – named after another prolific top-order batsman.
“He was great for us the whole week too,” Parrott said.
“He could clearly be playing district cricket if he wanted to. He’s definitely got the skill.”
The leadership of co-captains O’Hare and Dom Paynter was also a real positive to come out of the week for the Warriors and Parrott admitted he got “a great thrill” out of playing alongside many of WGCA cricket’s biggest stars.
“A guy like Dom – he bowled really well for us all week, and he’s one of the best fielders you’ll see,” Parrott said.
“He was a huge asset.”
With some of the pitches that the Warriors competed on playing quite slow, Paynter was used as an extra spin option, rather than bowling his usual seam-up deliveries.
He was a great find for a squad that potentially went in one slow bowler short.
And when it came to the Warriors’ fast men, Parrott was a huge wrap for the opening tandem of Kyle Brooke and Jarrod Armitage, who he described as, “just sensational”.
“They’re the two quickest guys in our group and they deserve a lot of credit for the chances they created,” he said.
Parrott also hinted at a slight change in the makeup of next year’s squad, floating the idea of selecting two full-time wicket-keepers.
“It was hard on Brent Murdoch, who did a really admirable job given that he hasn’t kept in a while,” Parrott said, adding that he was also particularly proud of his son Ben – who took the gloves for the Warriors’ first two matches.
“Keeping for five days is never easy so it’s (a second full-time keeper) something we’ll look at for next year.”
Finally, Parrott singled out Brooke again – this time as the Warriors’ biggest Country Week pest. Apparently none of his team mates even came close.
“He’d have to be the loudest bloke I’ve ever played with,” Parrott laughed.
“He was our fine-meister too and he made sure I copped the maximum there.
“But seriously, it was really a great bunch of blokes to be around – they keep it light off the field but they know how to switch back on as well.”
Sunraysia ultimately defeated Warragul and District to claim the Division 3 crown. But in a sign of just how even the competition was, the Warriors comfortably defeated Warragul at Casey Fields on day one of the carnival.
