BOIDC: The five things we learned from the opening day of the fifth round

Cavaliers' skipper is doing incredible things with the bat this summer and even though we've highlighted that more than once already this summer it's simply impossible not to focus on it again.

With Corben headlining and sticking his hand up for higher-level honours again, here's the five biggest talking points from the first day of the fifth round.

Word is Jameel Qureshi isn't going to throw his hat in the ring to play for Western Zone next summer, while that's unconfirmed it's coming from a couple of very reliable sources, people we're happy to trust.

Although it does remain a hypothetical if the incumbent captain doesn't make himself available the selectors absolutely have to appoint Cavaliers' Matt Corben as his successor because there simply is no other realistic option across the zone.

While Mat Skinner is captaining Dubbo's Western Zone Premier League side and Adam Ryan's leading the unbeaten Bathurst outfit, both made their McDonald's Country Cricket NSW Championship debuts this summer and can't be thrown into that role after three games.

We know what you're going to say - Matt Corben didn't even play for Western Zone this summer.

No, he didn't, but that was only because he unavailable on the first day and as a result was ruled out of the entire tournament. We can only assume Corben made that call too, because it would've been absolutely ridiculous for the selectors to sacrifice the best gloveman in the zone - and by a mile - and the form batter as well.

He's gone to another level since that side was named too, producing Steve Smith-like numbers for Cavaliers. He's notched two tons and passed 50 in all of his Bathurst-Orange Inter-District Cricket innings so far this summer.

The best player doesn't always make the best captain but Corben has an astute cricket brain and is a strong leader, his lead-from-the-front style of captaincy and the his style of play in general is tailor-made for that level and he's a good tactician, you can see that from Cavaliers' results during his tenure.

There's a fair old assumption the Western Zone is largely selected well before any cricket is played and appointing Corben early would do nothing to alleviate that, but naming a captain early shouldn't be frowned upon, not when it's an absolute no-brainer.

Fletcher Rose has a stress fracture in his back, fortunately for Centrals it looks as though he will continue to play through it as a bat but there's no doubt it's a monumental setback for the side's bowling attack.

We'll be honest here, without Rose there isn't much intimidation factor, hasn't been all summer.

The former Kinross skipper and NSW Schoolboy sends them down at a fair clip and while Daryl Kennewell is by no means a dibbly-dobbler, the rest of the Centrals quicks are just that.

That's not to say they're not effective, in usual circumstances.

They're all capable of moving the ball through the air and off the deck and they thrive when there's a little bit of juice in the wicket, when less pace often translates to more movement, they proved how effective they can be in those circumstances against Rugby Union.

Now, it must be noted that Rose hasn't bowled at all this season and Centrals did pick up a win over Kinross without him in their attack as well, but they've struggled in the other games and that looks to be more likely scenario occurring moving forward.

They won't get the conditions they want much, if at all through the rest of the summer and having a quick with a touch more pace will be crucial across the board, simply because it create a point of difference and more ways to attack.

Matt Ripps has done a sensational job taking wickets with his leg-spin on flat decks but they'll only get flatter and harder, although he might thrive even more if they dry out further and turn more.

Bottom line, Centrals' attack won't intimidate many sides without Rose in it and that makes for a massive mountain to scale.

If Orange City chase down Cavaliers' total with relative ease next weekend we're willing to label them morals for the 2019-20 premiership, because as far as we're concerned the maroons are the only side who will challenge them.

They're on track to do just that too, they'll resume at 0-46 chasing 239 for victory on day two and they knocked off a bigger total than that on a slightly-more-lively deck in the last round.

Of course someone's going to say 'oh, but Findlay used to play for them so he's just biased' but that's far from the case here, look at their results and tell us we're fibbing. If anything there's been a wait for what's always been an inevitable implosion from the Warriors, but it seems increasing more likely that won't happen.

If Cavaliers can do what no other side has yet this summer and bowl the Warriors out to claim first-innings points then that will bring Orange City right back to the field.

St Pat's Old Boys are ticking along nicely too, but we can't forget Orange City have already hammered the third-placed Saints once this summer.

City Colts have a great chance to win their first game of the season when they resume next Saturday against Bathurst City but it's going to require all their bowlers to put in the hard yards.

So what are the signs like from late on day one? They're mixed.

Dave Henderson has shouldered much of the load for Colts' pace attack but it didn't stop him enjoying a big start to his spell against Redbacks, with 1-8 off seven overs.

But he badly needs help at the other end.

Matt Stephen was given a trial run with the ball, bowling two overs towards the end of the day, and if he pulls up well from day one then Colts will like their chances even more.

Colts will also be monitoring the health of Matt Lawson after he had to bail on his fourth over of the afternoon.

There were questions around St Pat's Old Boys about whether they would be able to keep the momentum going after winning the Bathurst District Cricket Association title.

With representative juniors Nic Broes, Ben Mitchell and Tanvir Singh moving away it was going to take a big team effort to fill the gaps.

Those questions are quashed.

One of the key reasons for that has to be the efforts of Saints' Adam Ryan and Matt Fearnley, who have been the definition of 'leading by example' this season.

Ryan came up just short of his third straight half century across all BOIDC formats on Saturday while Fearnley's recent seven-wicket haul showed he's still a force at this level.

But it's not just their results which speak volumes for the Saints' season, it's the way they continue to bring up more junior talent in a winning culture.

Connor Slattery, Mitch Taylor and Ethan Ivory have all benefited from the groundwork they've laid while Bailey Brien showed he's more than ready to take the next step with his century on Saturday.

It's been a special turnaround for St Pat's Old Boys who, in the space of four years, have gone from struggling to jump off the bottom of the ladder to being regular title contenders.