Taylors Lakes has found the man to lead them for the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association season.
Last season’s club champion Aamir Raza will be playing-coach for the upcoming 2023-24 season after returning to the club last year, having been prevented from playing the season before due to COVID-19.
In his hiatus from the Lions he played at Minster, Southall Park and Malden Wanderers cricket clubs, in the Kent and Surrey cricket leagues respectively.
Coaching the Lions was never something Raza was planning on doing when he re-signed at the club for this season.
“I was just looking forward to coming back and playing some more cricket,” he said.
“It was quite a shock to hear that Alex [Deuchar] (former coach) was gone, we got on quite well, we were quite good friends.”
Within 24 hours of Deuchar’s departure Raza said he got a call to interview for the position, something that he said he couldn’t turn down.
“To actually get the job was out of my wildest dreams, everything just happened so quickly,” he said.
Being an imported player, Raza is only in Australia to play cricket for Taylors Lakes, which he said will help his coaching while not detracting from his on field capabilities.
“There’s no point being a good coach and then turning up on Saturday’s, scoring no runs and taking no wickets and not doing the job that you’re actually supposed to do,” he said.
“I feel it won’t be as difficult as many people think… I’m able to dedicate the time whether it means I have my extra sessions a week, or if I’m turning up an hour early… I don’t see that being an issue.”
After finishing last in 2022-23, winning just the two games, the Lions have been able to bring in a host of players to help push them back up the ladder.
Fast bowler Adam Sylvester will join the fold from English county side Worcestershire. Top order batsman Nilan Fernando has also joined the club and will work as the batting coach. Welsh opening batsman Steffan Roberts is another added to the squad. Leg spinner Melisha Deshapriya also joined the club, coming across from Grand United in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association with Fernando.
With all of these new players at Raza’s disposal he is feeling bullish about what his side can do this summer.
“I think winning games of cricket’s the key, we’ll be taking it one game at a time,” he said.
“Obviously, the goal is to win the flag, that goes without saying.
“We aim to make finals and once you make finals we aim to win the flag and that goes across all grades.
“Two weeks ago I had a squad of 10 to 14 names, I now have a squad of 17 and that 17 needs to come down to 11 on match day.
“The boys know that there are positions up for grabs and it is a fresh start, everyone will get a chance to prove themselves.
“We will be backing players, we have a lot of young talent within the club to come through and I think we just need to work to that.”
