The Super Kings may have had a rough couple of years, but after a massive recruiting spree they look set to be back in business in 2021/22

After missing out on finals by two games and relegation by one game, Box Hill North went out and brought in 15 players over the offseason.

They also lost a couple of players, including three regulars in their first XI last season in Shantanu Bhaiya, Thilina Rajakaruna and Rashimal Mendis to rivals Blackburn North.

Speaking to bhrdca.com.au, president Steve Carusi said that whilst he knew it was a process, he knew that eventually the pieces would fall into place.

“​​We had set plans for the last three years…and it fell into place and then one thing led to another,” Carusi said.

He said that if they didn’t get all these recruits, especially with the losses they had, the Super Kings would be in a bit more trouble.

“As clubs would tell you, you’ll lose half a dozen, and if you don’t recruit half a dozen you’re going to have more pressure.

“This year if we didn’t recruit those players, we would’ve been in trouble for a little while anyway.

He also mentioned the new rooms at Elgar Park were also key to attracting these new players.

“How good the rooms can be and how good they can be for a club; besides the headache I get as President with all the extra responsibility…

“You’ve got rooms, it’s easy to attract people.”

One of their new signings is ex-Sri Lankan International Kaushal Silva, signing on after a season in the ECA with Donvale.

Carusi said the key to his signing was how much he wanted to develop juniors, with him playing an extra.

“The big tick was he’s all about homegrown, he’s all about juniors, he’s all about developing the game and that’s what we need, that gave me a lot of excitement.

“It was what he needed because it was what he was after and it all came together. Him playing for us is a bonus”.

Carusi is also confident that all their teams will make finals this year, including the ones who have been close in recent years.

“I’d be very surprised if we don’t make finals in all grades.

“We usually make finals in all grades, except our ones are always there abouts, they missed out the last few years, the few years before that we unfortunately lost a couple of grand finals.”

The BHRDCA was back with a bang this week across all competitions, with major surprises, big wins and tight contests across all grades. Here’s a look at some of the stats for each grade this weekend.

 By Josh Ward

*All Numbers are based on MyCricket stats (at time of writing)

 Ray McIntosh Shield:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Forest Hill (103) defeated by Box Hill North Super Kings (9/236) by 133 runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Heatherdale (71) defeated by Blackburn (4/72) by six wickets with 25 overs left

Closest Margin (Runs): East Burwood (150) defeated by Blackburn North (177) by 27 runs

Closest Margin (Wickets): N/A

Highest Score (Team): Box Hill North Super Kings (9/236)

Lowest Score (Team): Heatherdale (71)

Highest Score (Player): Sanath De Silva (Box Hill North Super Kings) (55)

Best Bowling Figures: Pamitha Dissanayake (East Burwood) (4/13)

Howard Wilson Shield:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Templestowe (6/189) defeated Glen Waverley Hawks (126) by 63 runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Vermont (6/194) defeated Blackburn South (8/192) by four wickets with six balls left

Closest Margin (Runs): Mitcham (254) defeated Wycliff (223) by 31 runs
Closest Margin (Wickets): Koonung Heights (8/209) defeated Kerrimuir United (5/207) by two wickets with four balls left

Highest Score (Team): Mitcham (254)

Lowest Score (Team): Glen Waverley Hawks (126)

Highest Score (Player): Talwinder Singh (Mitcham) (115)
Best Bowling Figures: Sam J Noble (Templestowe) (4/8)

 Dorothy McIntosh Shield:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Doncaster (184) defeated by Park Orchards (244) by 60 runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Vermont (5/152) defeated Bulleen Templestowe (9/150) by five wickets with 6.5 overs left

Closest Margin (Runs): St Davids (7/164) defeated by Forest Hill (8/180) by 16 runs
Closest Margin (Wickets): N/A

Highest Score (Team): Park Orchards (244)

Lowest Score (Team): Heatherdale (132)

Highest Score (Player): Rudi Hunt (Park Orchards) (92)
Best Bowling Figures: Ayoob Mohamed (Mulgrave Wheelers Hill) (4/22)

 Peter White Shield:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Nunawading (7/205) defeated Manningham CC (149) by 56 runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Blackburn (4/175) defeated Laburnum (9/174) by six wickets with 3.1 overs left

Closest Margin (Runs): N/A
Closest Margin (Wickets): Yarraleen CC (5/117) defeated East Burwood (113) by five wickets with three overs left

Highest Score (Team): Nunawading (205)

Lowest Score (Team): East Burwood (113)

Highest Score (Player): Cameron C Clark (Nunawading) (70)
Best Bowling Figures: Callum Chilcott (Yarraleen) (4/27)

A Grade:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Blackburn South (9/187) defeated Koonung Heights (108) by 79 runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Kerrimuir United (4/143) defeated by Vermont (5/145) by five wickets with 2.5 overs left

Closest Margin (Runs): East Box Hill (152) defeated by Vermont South (7/191) by 39 runs
Closest Margin (Wickets): Glen Waverley Hawks (147) defeated by Bulleen Templestowe (7/149) by three wickets with five overs left

Highest Score (Team): Mitcham (8/195)

Lowest Score (Team): Koonung Heights (108)

Highest Score (Player): Bradley Oakes (Mitcham) (67*)
Best Bowling Figures: Raghav Prasad (Vermont South) (4/19)

B Grade:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Wycliff (162) defeated by Mulgrave Wheelers Hill (6/221) by 59 runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets):  Forest Hill (136) defeated by Doncaster (9/138) by one wicket with 4.1 overs left

Closest Margin (Runs): Manningham (152) defeated by Templestowe (6/181) by 29 runs
Closest Margin (Wickets): Heatherdale (6/196) tied Kerrimuir United (6/196)

Highest Score (Team): Mulgrave Wheelers Hill (6/221)

Lowest Score (Team): Forest Hill (136)

Highest Score (Player): Munish Kohli (Mulgrave Wheelers Hill) (85)
Best Bowling Figures: Munish Kohli (Mulgrave Wheelers Hill) (5/34)

C Grade:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Laburnum (7/196) defeated Burwood District (80) by 116 runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Box Hill North Super Kings (2/152) defeated St Davids (151) by eight wickets with 10.2 overs left

Closest Margin (Runs): N/A
Closest Margin (Wickets): Park Orchards (4/178) defeated Yarraleen CC (6/168) by six wickets with two overs left

Highest Score (Team): Laburnum (196)

Lowest Score (Team): Burwood District (80)

Highest Score (Player): Harrison Warhurst (Park Orchards) (74)
Best Bowling Figures: Shourya Lokre (Box Hill North Super Kings) (4/17)

D Grade:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Burwood District (121) defeated by Blackburn (7/208) by 89 runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Blackburn North (3/144) defeated Blackburn South (9/141) by seven wickets with 12 overs left

Closest Margin (Runs): Vermont South (9/157) defeated Nunawading (152) by five runs
Closest Margin (Wickets): Deakin (102) defeated by Templestowe (6/111) by four wickets with six overs left

Highest Score (Team): Heatherdale (227)

Lowest Score (Team): Deakin (102)

Highest Score (Player): Alex Lockie (Heatherdale) (94)
Best Bowling Figures: Bradley Byrnes (Blackburn) (5/14)

E Grade:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Wycliff (96) defeated by Forest Hill (6/225) by 129 runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Doncaster (8/141) defeated by Koonung Heights (4/146) by six wickets with 10 overs left

Closest Margin (Runs): Blackburn South (4/163) defeated Vermont (7/162) by one run
Closest Margin (Wickets): Bulleen Templestowe (5/94) defeated East Box Hill (8/91) by five wickets with 9 overs left

Highest Score (Team): Forest Hill (6/225)

Lowest Score (Team): East Box Hill (8/91)

Highest Score (Player): Samuel Stewart (Vermont) (52*)
Best Bowling Figures: Jordan L Moll (Bulleen Templestowe) (4/23)

F Grade:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Templestowe (87) defeated by Box Hill North Super Kings (140) by 53 runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Eley Park (3/109) defeated Manningham CC (106) by seven wickets with 11 overs left

Closest Margin (Runs): Glen Waverley Hawks (5/193) defeated Mitcham (142) by 51 runs
Closest Margin (Wickets): East Burwood (3/149) defeated Mulgrave Wheelers Hill (7/148) by seven wickets with 3.5 overs left

Highest Score (Team): Glen Waverley Hawks (5/193)

Lowest Score (Team): Templestowe (87)

Highest Score (Player): Sumit Choudhary (Mulgrave Wheelers Hill) (54*)
Best Bowling Figures: Brett Moore (Box Hill North Super Kings) (3/11)

G Grade:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Kerrimuir United (4/203) defeated St Davids (9/114) by 89 runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Koonung Heights (1/71) defeated Heatherdale (64) by nine wickets with 28 overs left

Closest Margin (Runs): Nunawading (9/125) defeated by Vermont South (6/188) by 63 runs
Closest Margin (Wickets): Blackburn (5/125 defeated Bulleen Templestowe (123) by five wickets with 2.4 overs left

Highest Score (Team): Kerrimuir United (203)

Lowest Score (Team): Heatherdale (64)

Highest Score (Player): Joshua Wickham (Koonung Heights) and Rodney Farrow (Vermont South) (52*)
Best Bowling Figures: James Dinneen (Koonung Heights) (5/14)

H Grade:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Yarraleen CC (101) defeated by Vermont (8/177) by 76 runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Forest Hill (6/174) defeated Park Orchards (7/165) by four wickets with zero balls left

Closest Margin (Runs): Kerrimuir United (6/151) defeated Eley Park (6/125) by 26 runs
Closest Margin (Wickets): N/A

Highest Score (Team): Mitcham (9/182) vs Laburnum

Lowest Score (Team): Yarraleen CC (101)

Highest Score (Player): Damian Ryan (Vermont) (52)
Best Bowling Figures: Andrew Thomson (Mitcham) (4/17)

I Grade:

Biggest Margin (Runs): St Davids (65) defeated by Doncaster (9/139) by 74 runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Vermont South (7/136) defeated by Blackburn (5/139) by five wickets with four overs left

Closest Margin (Runs): Heatherdale (6/219) defeated Koonung Heights (6/196) by 23 runs
Closest Margin (Wickets): N/A

Highest Score (Team): Heatherdale (6/219)

Lowest Score (Team): St Davids (65)

Highest Score (Player): Cameron A McWhinney (Koonung Heights) (54*)
Best Bowling Figures: George Cavallo (Doncaster) (3/7)

J Grade:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Blackburn North (9/133) defeated Blackburn South (9/125) by eight runs

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Kerrimuir United (5/61) defeated by Nunawading (3/75) by seven wickets with seven overs left

Closest Margin (Runs): N/A
Closest Margin (Wickets): N/A

Highest Score (Team): Blackburn North (9/133)

Lowest Score (Team): Kerrimuir United (5/61)

Highest Score (Player): Jackson Eales (Blackburn North) and Drew Sinclair (Blackburn South) (50*)
Best Bowling Figures: William P Sugden (Blackburn North) (4/16)

All Grades:

Biggest Margin (Runs): Forest Hill (103) defeated by Box Hill North Super Kings (9/236) by 133 runs (Ray McIntosh Shield)

Biggest Margin (Wickets): Koonung Heights (1/71) defeated Heatherdale (64) by nine wickets with 28 overs left (G Grade)

Closest Margin (Runs): Blackburn South (4/163) defeated Vermont (7/162) by one run (E Grade)
Closest Margin (Wickets): Koonung Heights (8/209) defeated Kerrimuir United (5/207) by two wickets with four balls left (Howard Wilson Shield) (excluding Heatherdale v Kerrimuir United B Grade Tie)

Highest Score (Team): Mitcham (254) (Howard Wilson Shield)

Lowest Score (Team): Kerrimuir United (5/61) (J Grade)

Highest Score (Player): Talwinder Singh (Mitcham) (Howard Wilson Shield) (115)

Best Bowling Figures: Bradley Byrnes (Blackburn) (D Grade) and James Dinneen (Koonung Heights) (G Grade) (5/14)

TRIBUTE TO RON SCHEELE
Tribute posted to Manningham CC Facebook Page

Manningham Cricket Club had some very sad news over the weekend, with the passing of who many consider the club’s greatest ever player, Ron Scheele.

For those that are not aware Manningham CC was formed through the amalgamation of the Doncaster Uniting CCC and Eastern Districts SACC – Ron was significant in the forming of the Doncaster side and its superstar player in its first decade.

In the 20th anniversary book of the Doncaster Uniting CCC, life member and fellow legend Bill Marsh described Ron as:
Probably the greatest individual player ever at the club. Member of the original team and of both ‘A’ Grade premiership teams. Fast medium right-hand bowler who can cut the ball viciously both ways.

Over the first ten years of Doncaster Uniting CCC Ron won the 1st XI bowling trophy nine times. The only time he did not win it was when the club could only field one team and elected to keep its C1 grade team and not its A grade team. The association ruled that Ron and Kevin Noy were not allowed to play in that low a grade (they went and played one season elsewhere until the club went back into a higher grade the next year).
In the second season of Doncaster Uniting CCC Ron was to bowl the 1st XI to an amazing A Grade premiership. After trailing on the first innings, we won outright as Ron took 3-17 and 7-27 against Highfield. This was part of a 52-wicket season that is still an equal club record for any grade (equalled by another Ron, Downes, in the 2nd XI in 2000-01). It was described in the 20th anniversary book as:

Highfield were elated with their first innings lead but did not count on Ron Scheele turning in one of his greatest bowling efforts in the second innings. They were to a man of the opinion they could counter Ron by batting down the wicket in order to break his line and length. However, Ron countered by calling his keeper on to the stumps irrespective of the fear of possible byes thus anchoring the back foot of all batsmen. The dual effort of bowler and keeper resulted in Ron taking 7 wickets for 27 runs.

We went back-to-back the following year with Ron taking another 51 wickets and a tailend batting effort to help beat Highfield again. He had spearheaded an amazing three years where the club had formed, been promoted to A Grade after one season, then won back-to-back A Grade premierships (along with a 2^nd XI flag too!). His contribution? 150 wickets!
Ron sits seventh on the all-time list of wicket takers at Manningham with 370 wickets at an average of 11.5, but this was in only 98 games.  It also does not tell the story of his career pre- Doncaster UCCC where he took more than 600 wickets at East Kew Methodist CC before they folded. Through his entire cricket career he took 1024 wickets at an average of 12.6 runs per wicket.

Manningham CC and Cricket Victoria Life Member Kevin Noy was his teammate when the club started:
Ron was an opening bowler who used his great skill to swing and cut the ball in both directions to take wickets over many seasons at an exceptional economy rate and average. His main attribute was to outthink batters and he took great delight in bamboozling the finest players of his time just when they thought they had worked him out. I never saw a player handle him with certainty and yet Ron’s demeanour was always calm and respectful usually ending with a satisfied smile as the batter departed. A great bowler and representative of our club.

Fellow Manningham CC life member Ian Oxley played with Ron at both East Kew and Doncaster:
I played cricket with Ron at East Kew Meths before we both went to Doncaster Uniting. Ron was an amazing bowler who could swing the ball and cut it prodigiously both ways. His biggest wicket takers were his cutters which he bowled with his middle finger behind the ball, Jack Iverson-style, flicking it one way or the other, a style he practiced early with a tennis ball down his sideway. His most dangerous ball was his off cutter which looked for all the world like a leg cutter action. I lost count of the number of batters who shouldered arms only to see the ball cut back severely and shatter their stumps.

Ron finished his 1st XI career at Doncaster Uniting CCC in 1980, though he was to come back occasionally to play in the lower grades through the 80s when his son Malcolm was playing some senior cricket.

In 2011 Ron was an obvious choice in Manningham’s team of the 1970s, and earlier he was named in Doncaster Uniting CCC’s 20th anniversary team. But perhaps his greatest honour was being named in the ESCDCA Team of the 20th century – a huge honour for Ron but also for the club to have a representative in this prestigious team.

The 1st XI bowing trophy at Doncaster Uniting CCC was named after Ron, later this practice was adopted by Manningham CC.

Everyone at Manningham CC is saddened by Ron’s passing, just as we were by the recent passing of Ron’s contemporaries and teammates Geoff Webb, Dennis Wilson, Geoff Minster and George Beaumont, and we offer our condolences to Ron’s family, friends, and teammates.

Ron’s cricket achievements (as with Dennis, George and the two Geoff’s) will live on as we soon open our new clubrooms where those records will be displayed prominently, permanently, and proudly.

Vale Ron Scheele 1939-2021

Blackburn South were yet again promising in season 2020/21 across all grades and there’s a sense of optimism at Mirrabooka Reserve heading into the 2021/22 season.

The Cobras had a terrific season from firsts to fifths in 2020/21, with four out of five teams making finals, two making the grand final and their seconds winning the A Grade.

Their firsts also showed plenty of promise in their second season in the HWS, finishing third before being thumped by Mitcham in the Semi Final.

Speaking to bhrdca.com.au, senior coach Tim Snow believes his team will be back up there again.

“We’ve got a young side who’s constantly improving and wanting to improve,” he said.

“We’ve got so much depth across the club, which is really good to see. I’m really optimistic we can go a step further”.

Senior captain Mitchell Fitton said the boys are excited to be back and also believes they’re set to play their best cricket in 2021/22.

“Guys are really excited to come back and play.

“That’s something we pride ourselves on as well is making sure everyone’s enjoying their cricket because that’s when you play your best as well.”

They haven’t heavily recruited this offseason, with Snow believing retaining most of their core group was key to their chances in 2021/22.

“This offseason we’ve really invested in our own players, we’ve retained pretty much everyone from previous seasons and we’re really investing our coaching and training into those guys.”

However they have bought in one star player in ex-Camrea and Tullamarine allrounder Gihan De Silva.

Last season he scored 528 runs (second most) at 33 and took 25 wickets (fourth most) at 15 in the North Metro Cricket Association’s second tier, with both Fitton and Snow agreeing that he’ll enhance an already strong Cobras squad.

“I’m pretty happy to have him on board and involved, he’s going to be a really good asset for us,” Fitton said.

“He’s a different player, not too many leg-spinners are around in the comp, I’m gonna be really looking forward to seeing how he goes this season,” Snow said.

They’ve also bought in a batting and bowling coach in Fitzroy Doncaster and Melbourne University players Sean Pietersz and Elliot Durrant.

Durrant will also play in, with Snow also stating that both have been a massive help heading into 2021/22.

“When we opened back up we were able to do a few small group sessions in pairs with those guys to get us a real head start and hopefully a leg up on our opposition.”

The T20 side could potentially be enhanced by Dutch T20 world cup keeper Scott Edwards.

Tim Snow confirmed that Edwards could make an appearance in the T20 competition if all goes to plan.

“​​The Dutch squad’s got a couple of tours on, but there’s nothing locked in yet. At this stage we’re expecting to have him for at least three or four games,” he said.

Snow said he was proud and amazed at how much Edwards has improved the four years he’s been at Blackburn South.

“Every year he seems to get better and better and better, his work rate is incredible to continually improve.”

Fitton also mentioned that the Cobras can improve, but this season will be all about making finals yet again.

“This season it’s about getting into the top four and then anything can happen from there.”

Snow is also excited about kicking off the season down at Highfield Park, with his players also eager to get out there too.

“Even though we haven’t had that many training sessions together, we’re all looking forward to getting started, getting into it and testing ourselves.”