Cricket
29 September, 2024
Brim KSH 'up and about' ahead of Horsham Cricket Association season
President Leigh Dovaston and captain Isaac McPherson preview 2024/25.
Cricket
Brim
With the 2024/25 Horsham Cricket Association season around the corner, the Brim Kellalac Sheep Hills Cricket Club are set to take the next step in its future.
In August, the club was elected to join the HCA after ongoing discussions in recent years.
"I think everyone's excited to start something new and have a see where we're at. Come a couple of weeks, we'll be pretty up and about," club president Leigh Dovaston said.
"Seeing new teams and new grounds, there is a lot of excitement around."
Despite being a "small, standalone club", Mr Dovaston hopes the move will help the club progress.
"We have a lot of keen young kids that like playing cricket, then that pushes into the older ones," he said.
"Especially that excitement of playing two-day cricket; they're keen, which then makes the older ones a bit keener to come back and try again."
The continual work at home ground Brim Recreation Reserve, and the re-opening of the Brim Hotel has also generated energy.
A Grade captain, Isaac McPherson, has been thrilled with the turnout in the lead-up to the start of the season.
"It's really good to see good numbers here at training at the moment. I think everyone's got a new look on the upcoming season [and] on cricket," Mr McPherson said.
The A Grade side finished runners-up in the Wimmera Mallee competition last season, but McPherson is excited to return to two-day cricket.
"Our group is probably touch on the older side, but [they have] a lot of experience, and they really get around those younger guys," he said.
"There's a lot of our younger blokes that missed out playing two-day cricket, and they're really looking forward to testing themselves out and trying to bat all day and trying to bowl 20 overs in a day."
According to McPherson, Kobe McGregor and Charlie Dean will be the players to watch this season.
"He [McGregor] had his first full year in the A Grade last season [and has] come a long way," he said.
"Dean, a left-arm fast bowler, is fit as we've ever seen him."
McPherson highlighted Dean big match calibre, taking a combined seven wickets in the two finals matches last season.
The captain noted younger players Connor McGinniss and Sandon Schultz are set to benefit from the longer form of the game.