BY MICHAEL ESPOSITO
WERRIBEE’S Victorian Sub District Cricket Association coach Travis Bean will invest in his existing players, rather than looking to include several new recruits.
The First XI captain said several of the side’s younger players will have benefited from a season of senior cricket, and have the goods to improve from last season, in which Werribee had three wins and finished 11th.
Bean noted at least three games where Werribee was in a winning position but gave it away.
“We didn’t know how to win those close games,” he said.
This season, the club will have life-member Ivo Alifraco come on as specialist coach, while former Footscray and Richmond VFL/AFL player Chris Burton, who also represented Australia’s under-19 cricket team and has been heavily involved in Werribee’s junior cricket club, is taking fitness session over pre-season.
With the bulk of last season First XI remaining at the club, Bean is expecting pace bowler Peter Moore, who took 21 wickets from 12 matches with an average of 18, to lead the attack, while off-spinner Ryan Alifraco who impressed at RM Hatch under-15 level last year, will push for First XI selection. Alifraco played 12 Fourth XI and two Third XI games last year, and took 30 wickets.
His brother Adam led his side’s batting average with 20 last season, but the Tigers will need a better combined batting effort this year to be top six contenders.
Werribee Cricket Club is planning a past players and officials day and is looking to make contact with as many former players and officials as possible.
Any past players or officials can register on the club’s website: www.werribee.cricketvictoria.com.au.
