Tara Murray
Taylors Lakes has announced the ‘worst kept secret’ in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.
The Lions, who finished bottom of the north-west division last season, announced that Trent Waring will return to the club as a playing assistant coach.
Waring, who played his juniors at the Lions, has spent the last 14 years playing Victorian Premier Cricket with Greenvale Kangaroos.
He played 187 matches for the Kangaroos, including 54 first XI games. He took 229 across his time at the Kangaroos.
Lions president Rob Arnold said they were excited to have Waring back at the club in a playing capacity.
“It’s the worst kept secret,” Arnold said.
“We kind of knew towards the end of last season that he was going to play for us, but we couldn’t announce everything until he had ticked everything off.
“He has a wealth of experience. We are really excited to have him come back. It’s been a long time coming for us.”
Arnold said with such a young and inexperienced side, someone with Waring’s experience would help them close the gap. He said having lost a number of close games last season, that experience would have helped them win at least a couple of them.
He said most other club’s in the competition have had players come back to them after trying their skills at a higher level, which gave them a big advantage.
“Ex-premier cricketers who have gone to the highest level and then for whatever reason have come back to their local clubs, which is really good for them.
“I think Williamstown has at least three, Werribee has a number as well. We’re pleased Trent is coming back to give us that experience in our side.”
Waring will be the club’s bowling assistant coach to help bring through the next generation of young fast bowlers.
Waring already has a relationship with some of the younger players, having coached the club’s under-15 Craig Shield side last season.
Arnold said Waring was the first of a couple of big signing announcements for next season, with more news to be announced in coming weeks.
