Lightning’s depth key
LINDISFARNE is paying a penalty for its success as the Lightning’s top performers reach higher honours, hindering the club’s red-ball campaign.
Winning last season’s premiership against Clarence with a day to spare topped off a strong season from Lindisfarne, however this season the Lightning will rely on depth to get them back to the top.
Roger Woolley medallist Ben McDermott, who made 217 not out in Lindisfarne’s premiership win, will feature for Tasmania and the Hobart Hurricanes, making his availability for Lindisfarne rare.
Nathan Ellis is likely to play less, with the blond quick breaking into the Tigers’ white-ball side and featuring in every one-day domestic match this season after leading the CTPL leading wicket-takers last season with 49 scalps, 14 clear of the competition’s next best, at an average of 14.88.
Spinning all-rounder Jarrod Freeman and Lindisfarne’s captain Charlie Wakim also look set to further their firstclass careers, and rookies Mac Wright and Keegan Oates will aim to impress early in the season to push their cases for Tasmanian debuts.
Pace bowlers Tom Briscoe and Aaron Summers won’t feature for the Lightning, with the former retiring and the latter moving to South Australia.
Lindisfarne coach Matt Wilkie knows his side could be undermanned through the season but believes it provides an opportunity for others.
“It will be challenging to win again,” Wilkie said.
“Not only will there be a different feeling now being the hunted, I’m sure other clubs will have improved, meaning we will have to get better again.
“We set key performance indicators for players to fulfil during a match, so when players are called upon they know what their role is.”
Wilkie will again be a playing coach for Lindisfarne and he said it’s important for his club to have players reach the next level through club cricket performances.
“It’s fantastic to have people come through our club and represent Tasmania, it’s something that hasn’t happened for a while here,” Wilkie said. “It shows the juniors the pathway they can follow to the state team and they are now seeing club cricket performances as a way to get to the top level.”
The Lightning will be helped by Sam Underhill making the move south to Tasmania from Queensland, and Tasmania-contracted bowler Alex Bevilacqua playing for Lindisfarne this season after being picked up from WA.
Robb McMillan has taken over from former Tigers coach Dan Marsh at North Hobart as the Demons try to build on a T20 premiership last season.
Kingborough will welcome the addition of Trent Keep to the club and the return of club stalwart Jason Shelton — after two season with St Annes — as it aims to make the top four for the first time since 2016-17.
Keep’s old club South Hobart Sandy Bay welcomes back returning batter Tim Cannon and will be relying on its consistent performers to put the Sharks in March action for an eighth straight season.
Clarence has finished in the top two the past four seasons, including the past three on top of the ladder, but the Roos will be hoping to capitalise on the dominant era that has only produced one red-ball flag.
University and Glenorchy will both be looking for a more consistent year as they bid to move into finals action, and Greater Northern will build on its first season in the competition with an unchanged list.
New Town will be under new coach Nathan Wegman and high performance manager Peter Di Venuto, who will be pushing the young talent to hopefully prevent the Bucks from another wooden spoon. Round 1 (one-day matches): Lindisfarne v New Town at Anzac Park, Kingborough v Glenorchy at the Twin Ovals, Clarence v Greater Northern at Kangaroo Bay. Byes: University, South Hobart Sandy Bay, North Hobart.