By David Nagel
KOOWEERUP
Captain: Michael Giles
Last Season: Second
Most Runs: Chris Bright (523 at 47.55); Luke McMaster (407 at 33.92)
Most Wickets: Matt Bright (23 at 28.30); Jess Mathers (18 at 28.00)
In: Gamini Kumara (Yarragon) and Michael Giles (Returns).
Out: Videsh Dassanayake (Carlisle Park) and Mahie Bodahandi (Carlisle Park).
One of the great stories of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) this season revolves around the return of favourite son Michael ‘Doofy’ Giles to the Kooweerup Cricket Club.
The dashing left-hand opener played a huge role in the Demons successful premiership runs, captaining grand final triumphs, before leaving the club during the 2015/16 season.
Giles has made nine centuries at Premier Division level for the Demons, and his leadership and guidance will be crucial as the club looks for its first premiership success in three years.
“It’s been good to be back; my young fella has been playing at Kooweerup for a few years now, so I’ve been around the club, but not in an official capacity,” Giles said.
“I’m not there to change things too much, these blokes are all experienced players, but there might be a couple of things in regards to leadership, especially in the two-day format, that we can improve on.
“I’ve won premierships as captain before, so we’ll find out if we can do it again.”
Giles returns as captain, and his playing stocks have been bolstered by the signing of Yarragon gun Gamini Kumara.
Kumara has been the best player in the Warragul and District Cricket Association over the last decade, having made more than 8000 runs at an average of a tick over 50.
Kumara has already impressed his new teammates in net sessions, and Giles can’t wait to see what he delivers on game day.
“He’s a top-order batsman, and good bowler too, an all-rounder and a genuine star I believe,” he said.
“He’s also very experienced, that’s the best thing, so we’re looking forward to see what he can bring to the team.”
Giles and Kumara will bat in a top-six that absolutely reeks of class.
Chris Bright and Luke McMaster are mainstays at the top of the order, while Giles expects Mitch Davey to step out of the shadows and really deliver this season.
A back injury has prevented Davey from delivering his powerful best with the ball…but his batting is now his focus.
“I had a meeting with him the other night, just went through his season and what’s going to come up, just to see what we can get out of him,” Giles said.
“He bats in the nets as well as anyone I’ve ever seen, he just needs to take that out to the middle.
“If he makes some early runs it will set him on the right path.
“We’ve got a plethora of bowling options so Mitch is concentrating mainly on his batting at the moment.”
Giles said the pre-season commitment, from the top-flight team in particular, had been impressive.
“It’s been pretty good, we’ve had very good commitment from the Premier grade squad, of about 14 or 15 guys, they’ve all pretty much done the full pre-season,” he said.
“It’s been a few years since we won one, and the hunger is definitely there, and a few of the younger ones, like (Ayden Mills) Millsy, Stevie Dillon, Cody (Miller), Mitch Davey, these guys, they haven’t won many premierships so it’s up to them now to take the next step and start leading the way and take us to the next level.
“Mitch and Millsy, I think they’ll both have breakout years with the bat.”
Kooweerup is scheduled to host Premier Division newcomer Officer, at Denhams Road, in round one of the CCCA this Saturday.
