A trio of English imports is helping Keilor Park fly up the Victorian Turf Cricket ladder.
After winning just two games last year, the Devils currently hold a 2-0 record from the first month of the new north division season.
Saturday’s round three match at home to Seddon was washed out
All-rounder Robert Jones and twins David and Ian Mansfield have been at the forefront of the action in Keilor Park’s two wins so far.
PICTURE GALLERY: Keilor Park v Spotswood
In his debut match for Keilor Park, Jones took three wickets against Spotswood, helping his side to a 147-run win.
And Mansfield didn’t miss a trick with the bat, combining for 169 runs.
Keilor Park had a change of leadership in the off-season, with Andrew Barlow taking over as captain-coach.
Keilor Park president Dale Baldwin is rapt with the form of his English recruits.
“It’s been a very good start to the season and it’s great the boys are gelling,” he said.
“Our three new English players have fitted in as if they’d been here forever.
“Winning does make it a lot more positive . . . it was a pretty disappointing year last year.”
It isn’t just with a bat that the Devils have controlled matches early in the season. Keilor Park has also been damaging with the ball, dismissing Sunshine Druids for 104 in round one and Spotswood for 86 in round two.
Leading the way have been Joe Carland and Jarrod Freckleton, who have each taken five wickets.
“We have a strong bowling line-up with some local boys doing really well,” Baldwin said. “Joe Carland is opening the bowling and doing a fantastic job. All the bowlers are doing a lot better than last season.
“[The Spotswood match] was very impressive. It was a good game to watch and we’re looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Despite the hot start, Baldwin isn’t getting carried away, rather making sure his side keeps working hard.
“We definitely want to play finals and we want to be sure we’re going the right way as well,” he said. “We don’t want to over-think it at this early stage of the season.”
