Sunshine heads into the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association season under new leadership and with a brighter outlook.
The Crows followed up the appointment of head coach Mark Brown by elevating batting all-rounder Kane Twentyman to the captaincy.
Twentyman has been with the Crows for five years. He’s been a valuable contributor in a shaky top order and can be used as a change bowler.
The 26-year-old told the Weekly it would be a “great honour” to lead the Crows into the field of battle for the season opener against Bayswater.
“It’s something unexpected from my part,” Twentyman said.
“I’m more than excited to take it on and see how I go.”
The buzz around Dempster Park is one of optimism.
Their draw was favourable, with the west group sides avoiding the stronger clubs from the north and south.
The Crows will venture to the eastern suburbs on only three occasions and will get one of those out of the way in the opening round.
Although Sunshine is coming off a wooden spoon in 2013, the senior team’s form after Christmas was promising and its only two wins of the season came after the festive break.
The Achilles heel, a misfiring top order, may be about to remedy itself with the return of John Blake and the arrival of four imports from England, three of whom are top-order batsmen.
“They’ve created depth in our batting stocks and that was high on the priority list,” Twentyman said. “Three of the four guys from England are batsmen or batting all-rounders.”
Bowling has been a strength of the Crows in past summers.
They haven’t pursuaded Andrew Webb to return, but in Kapelan Kulendranathan, James Leach and Laki Khan, they are well stocked for new-ball operators.
Twentyman is happy with the list. “I’ve been there five years and it’s probably in the strongest position it has been in the years leading up to a season.”
It’s a big year for Twentyman with the added responsibility of the captaincy.
He admits he’s a raw leader but won’t have to go far for advice and isn’t afraid to ask questions of former skipper Troy Stone.
“Troy’s one of the better tactical captains I’ve played under,” Twentyman said. “I will be strongly leaning on him to help steer us through these early rounds Then, as the season progresses and I get more confidence, we’ll move on from there.”
Twentyman won’t hesitate to make the big calls, and he says positions in the first XI will be hard earned.
“I’m going to try to set some boundaries and have some consistent things for the guys to achieve in regards to punctuality and commitment,” he said.
“We’re only really looking to select guys who are willing to and want to be there, as opposed to getting a game on their name. We’re looking to put a bit of a stamp on it that way.”
The Victorian Turf Cricket Association, Williamstown and District Cricket Association and North West Metropolitan Cricket Association will also play their opening rounds this weekend.
