ORANGE’S open cricket coach Matt Tabbernor says it’s time for players to step up after a “frustrating” representative season.
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Orange finished its season on Sunday with an eight-wicket loss to Bathurst in the Western Premier League clash.
It meant Orange celebrated just one win from seven games this season.
“It’s been a frustrating season,” Tabbernor said.
“We probably lost four or five games by 20 or 30 runs.”
Orange’s only win came in the opening President’s Cup match in October where it had a two-wicket victory over Blue Mountains.
Orange then lost the President’s Cup final by seven wickets to Bathurst.
Orange lost all four Western Premier League matches to Mudgee, Dubbo, Cowra and Bathurst and also tasted defeat in their SCG Country Cup match against Parkes.
Tabbernor said Orange can’t keep looking for excuses.
“We keep saying we’re rebuilding but a lot of these guys have played two or three seasons of rep now,” Tabbernor said.
“It’s probably time they stepped up and took more responsibility. They have to be more consistent.”
Tabbernor said the Orange side had taken steps towards returning to some more dominant form but still had work to do.
“We’re bowling five good balls an over and then the sixth will go for a boundary,” he explained.
“We’re losing wickets in clumps. In a few games we lost four or five wickets in 10 runs. When we lose a wicket we’ve got to make sure we don’t lose another. We need to consolidate.
“I can’t fault the fielding. We didn’t drop too many catches and we made a few run outs with direct hits. The efforts in the field were outstanding.”
It’s hard to believe this time two years ago Orange earned a spot in the SCG Country Cup final eight.
Matt Findlay, Nick Wright and Liam Gough are the only players who were a part of the 2010 side who also lined up for Orange this season.
Tabbernor said Orange has the players to dominate representative fixtures but it wasn’t working out that way.
“We’ve got the talent there,” he said.
“We had four in the Mitchell team, two made the Western Zone side and Trent Colley was picked for NSW Country. We’ve got the talent, we’ve just got to put it together.
“We unearthed a couple. Max Dodds, the last few games, batted beautifully. Charlie Litchfield is another young one and he’ll come on.”
Tabbernor said now players had to go back to club cricket and work towards a better 2013-14 season.
Orange’s “frustrating” season
September 23: Orange loses WPL match to Mudgee by nine wickets.
October 7: Orange loses WPL to Dubbo by one wicket.
October 13: Orange wins President’s Cup match against Blue Mountains by two wickets.
October 14: Orange loses President’s Cup final to Bathurst by seven wickets.
November 4: Orange loses SCG Country Cup match to Parkes by 28 runs.
November 18: Orange loses WPL match to Cowra by 22 runs.
December 2: Orange loses WPL match to Bathurst by eight wickets.