DOMINATOR: Chris Novak will play a key role in Orange's quest to win the 2012-13 President's Cup, starting today against the Blue Mountains. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 1012cricket3
IT’S hardly the weather any cricket lover, especially batsmen, wanted to see on the eve of today’s President’s Cup, but when Orange new comer Chris Novak woke to find it snowing yesterday morning, the big fast bowler licked his lips.
“It’ll be great for the bowlers. Nice green wickets and a bit moist,” Novak laughed ahead of what looks like another cold and wet President’s Cup in Bathurst this weekend.
“It’ll be good for myself. Batting will be a bit hard but, you know, a few years ago we played in the snow.
“They’ll get us on any way they can.”
The 28-year-old is in his first season in the Orange District Cricket Association, having played the last six summers with All Saints and Oxford-Centennials in the Bathurst District Cricket Association competition.
He enjoyed a fair degree of success plying his trade in the BDCA.
Novak was part of the Bathurst representative side to claim the last two President’s Cups, coming out on top against Orange, Mudgee and the Blue Mountains in the Mitchell Cricket Council selection trials held at Bathurst every year.
It was hard to move away from a winning culture, given the success paved the way for Novak to become a regular in the Mitchell line-up.
But as they say, a change is as good as a holiday.
“It’s fantastic. I wanted a new opportunity, new fields, new players, new teams,” the CYMS recruit said.
“I guess, playing for six years in the one town against the same guys every week got a bit boring.
“It’s a great opportunity (with Orange). I’ve met a lot of new guys and I’m just looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Orange takes on the Blue Mountains in the first round of today’s President’s Cup action while Mudgee meets defending champions Bathurst.
The winner of both plays off for the title of 2012-13 President’s Cup kings in the final tomorrow.
For Orange, it’s a chance to get both the side’s Western Premier League season up and running following back-to-back losses at the hands of Mudgee and Dubbo, and prove a few of the doubters wrong at the same time.
Orange has picked a young side this summer in a generational change to representative cricket in the city.
Highlighting the move is just three players making up the 2012-13 Orange representative unit - Matt Findlay, Nick Wright and Liam Gough - were there to see Orange’s first SCG Cup Western Zone title triumph back in December 2010.
But Novak said Orange would be raring to go come 9.30am today.
He believes Orange can win its first President’s Cup title since 2009-10.
“As a unit we’ve come together really well and that’s 50 per cent of the battle, being there with each other and working hard for each other,” he said.
“That’s something Bathurst does well; they’re just really aggressive.
“I hope to bring that sort of mentality to Orange. If you play hard you get the rewards.”
Orange takes on the Blue Mountains from 9.30am today.