By Tyler Lewis
VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET SEASON PREVIEW
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CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE:
Coach: Will Carr
Captain: Michael Wallace
Last First XI premiership: 1967/68
Last season:
It was a season to remember for the Swans, both on and off the field.
Not only did Will Carr’s men surge to the grand final, but they listed Ashley Chandrasinghe’s named on the Victorian books.
It will be a matter of whether the Swans can maintain that new expectation in 2022/23.
Most runs: Luke Manders (671 at 44.73, three x half-centuries, two x centuries)
Most wickets: Ruwantha Kellepotha (37 wickets at 15.59, BB: 5/25)
Ins: Michael De Iacovo (St Kilda), Shiv Patel (Buckley Ridges)
Outs: Nil.
What we say:
Casey-South Melbourne will set out to prove season 2021/22 wasn’t a flash in the plan.
The Swans played an exhilarating brand of cricket last summer in the white-ball format, resulting in a grand final appearance, Ashley Chandrasinghe earning a Victorian Rookie Contract and Ruwantha Kellepotha shifting towards a Big Bash League outing this season.
Will Carr’s men will adjust to the red-ball structure seamlessly with the blade, however the question will linger until proven otherwise on how the bowling attack will accommodate to the change.
While the spinners are going to play a key role, a fit and firing Nathan Lambden will determine where this side finishes.
If the big quick has his tail up, the Swans potential is endless.
What they say (Will Carr):
“They’re both difficult players to replace,” he said of Ashley CHandrasignhe and Ruwantha Kellepotha playing higher honours.
“They’re very high caliber individuals, but at the same time it’s been something we have been thinking about and planning for.
“We feel we have both covered as well as we possibly can, hence the recruitment of De Iacovo and we have some young and up and coming batters developing nicely.
“In particular Atharv Deshpande who we think will feature at some stage in the First XI, he will get an opportunity at some stage, so we feel like we should be able to cover the potential loss of Ash at some stage.
“And then with Kellepotha, he is different to replace again with his skill-set, but we feel if we’re rich in one areas, it’s spinners.”
Round 1: v Carlton at Casey Fields, October 8
