Tara Murray
Sunshine Heights is focusing on the future in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Roy Picone Shield.
Heights has backed in some of its young stars to make the step into the senior program to help set up the side for the future.
President Giulio Venditti said they decided to head in this direction with a number of players coming through the ranks.
“We have a lot of kids,” he said. “We think we have a good mix of experience and youth.
“We’re on the right track but it has been up and down. When we get more consistent with games and the more games we get into the kids the better they will be long term.”
Venditti said they were playing six to seven kids every game, while there were 11 to 12 across the top two grades.
He said they were pushing each other for spots.
“They have all come up from our under-17 program which last year won the grand final,” he said.
“They’ve stepped into the senior sides to quicken their development. They just want to play turf cricket and they are improving.
“There’s 11 or 12 competing for spots in the first or second XI. There’s a bit of banter and spots are always up for grabs in both batting and bowling.”
Helping the group come through is skipper Naivedyam Dwivedi.
Dwivedi has been the standout for the side so far in his first season at the club.
“He is playing incredible,” Vendetti said. “He is achieving above what we were expecting.
“He’s come from England playing in different conditions and on different grounds. He thought he might struggle early on.
“He has fitted in so well and the kids love him.”
It was frustration again on Saturday, with all VTCA matches called off due to rain.
Heights had been bowled out for 160 on day one against Point Cook the previous weekend.
Venditti said it has been really hard to get going this season.
“We’ve had two completed games out of five,” he said. ‘The consistency has been lacking.
“There’s no consistency at all.’
After six rounds, Sunshine Heights sits in fifth spot with one win and one loss from its completed games.
Vendetti said they had put any expectations on the group this season.
“We have only thought long term,’ he said. “We want to get games into the kids at the highest level.
“Hopefully it’ll lead to good things later on. We don’t want to put too much pretty on there
“They are turning up on the track and training is fantastic and it shows on game day.”
Sunshine Heights faces Keilor Park in its next match which will be played on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.
