RACK ’em up and start again.
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No side in the Orange District Cricket Association have their player stocks gutted on an annual basis quite like Kinross, but coach Andrew Litchfield anticipates the students will be able to build into the competition as the summer wears on.
Litchfield anticipates blooding as many as seven first grade debutants in week one of the 2015-16 competition, meaning the likes of HSC students Charlie Litchfield and Sam Nichols won’t be there come season start.
It’s a massive hole to fill.
For any team, not just Kinross, and Litchfield is under no illusions about the difficulties the students face over the initial course of the season.
“Take those two guys out of any team and they’ll struggle,” he said.
“They might be back and play a couple of games after the exams finish, but it’s the same story for us every year. We’ll be an inexperienced group again, but with the help of a few senior guys we’ll be hoping to build as the year progresses.”
Those senior guys Litchfield refers to are young pups themselves.
But in the form of Hugh Britton, Max Manson, Fletcher Rose and Charlie Mortimer, Kinross has at the very least a solid player base to work up from.
Litchfield said veteran Stu Crisp will play a couple of games to help the side out as well, while Kinross physical education teacher Joe Priest will also line-up in the two blue to help mentor the young squad.
“Stu will help coach and play again,” Litchfield added.
“It’s going to be difficult, but we’ve done it every year so I’m confident we’ll improve as the season goes on.”
Kinross starts its first grade campaign against Centrals at Riawena Oval on October 10.
Significant gain: Joe Priest
Last season: Fourth.
Prediction: Fifth.
Cricki's view: Jackman. Grant. Heffner. Riminton. And now, Britton. With a new cherry and a bowling action likely to frighten the life out of a chiropractor, we’re predicting Kinross’ Britton to become the next great Hugh and lead the students to one win, maybe two this year. Huge effort, Hugh.