Young Bulls make leap
RISING Bannockburn star Lachie Osborne is hoping a strong pre-season will set him up for the campaign ahead as he makes the “step up” to GCA first XI cricket.
Osborne, along with his 2021-22 under-17 premiership teammates Bailey Rathje, Darcy Foran and Brodie Harding, have made the jump to senior cricket after stellar junior careers.
The quartet played key roles in Bannockburn’s undefeated premiership run last season, capping off their junior careers on a high.
Osborne and Rathje come into this season having enjoyed a taste of first XI cricket in GCA3 with the Bulls last season and are set to become regulars in the side this campaign along with Foran.
“It hasn’t been the start to the season we had hoped, pre-season has been a lot of fun and we’re all really keen to play some cricket,” Osborne said. “The whole group has been fantastic with us younger guys, showing us around and helping us out with advice and things like that.
“There’s definitely a step up I’ve noticed in the nets, all three parts of the game are better.
“The bowlers bowl quicker, the batters hit it harder and the fielding is so much better. Hopefully the good pre-season I’ve had means I’ll be ready for that step up (this) weekend.”
Rathje, who made 547 runs at an average of 39.07 last season across under-17s, seconds and firsts, said he hadn’t set any personal goals, but was hoping to bat in the middle order.
“It’s really exciting to be a part of the full squad now, we trained with them a bit last year and that gave us a good idea of what to expect, but it’s just a different level of competition again,” he said.
“I don’t know where I’ll bat in the order just yet, I think somewhere in the middle order.
“Our team is a really good mix of young guys and some more experienced players, the older guys have been really welcoming and made it really easy to know we belong.
“I haven’t really set myself any personal goals for the year, I’m pretty keen to get up to speed with the pace and intensity of the game and fit in as best I can, it’ll be a different game in the seniors and I’ll need to get used to that.”
There’s definitely a step up I’ve noticed in the nets, all three parts of the game are better.
LACHIE OSBORNE