WDCA Team of the Decade set

With the 2010's closed and the start of the new decade upon us, it's time to look back at the best-of-the-best in the WDCA over the last 10 seasons, with emphasis being placed on overall consistency (min. 50 matches).

1. Fraser Duncan (3019 runs at 27.95, HS 110)

Opening the batting in our team of the decade, Fraser Duncan has become the face of the WDCA at a representative level- and it's easy to see why.

While he started the decade off slow in his younger years, over 290 runs in each of his last 8 seasons shows Duncan's consistency and fight in the face of adversity.

A back-up wicketkeeper, Duncan provides a versatile edge at the top of the order, as he has been through Hallora's recent success and 2017 premiership.

2. David Sharpe (WK) (2098 runs at 27.61, HS 139*, 52 dismissals):

While the best of Sharpe came in the decade prior (evidenced by his famous 1000-run season), he has still been head and shoulders above other wicket-keepers in terms of batting consistency, despite a slight decline in numbers.

2014/15 was certainly his crowning season of the decade, with 577 runs in a premiership season proving to be a fitting swansong for the Drouin legend.

3. Gamini Kumara (5409 runs at 55.19, HS 187*, 232 wickets at 15.54, BB 8/17):

Undoubtedly the greatest cricketer of the decade, Kumara is the only all-rounder in this group who would comfortably make the side as a batsmen or bowler.

Three 180+ scores- including perhaps the innings of the decade (187*) against Bunyip in the 2012/13 semi-finals sits alongside his 10 centuries, three 8-wicket hauls and over 200 wickets- Kumara has truly done it all in his time in the WDCA. His batting average of 55.19 is 17 higher than anyone else on this listthere simply isn't much more to say about the Sri Lankan native- he is the cream of the crop in WDCA cricket.

4. Daniel Hamilton (2369 runs at 38.84, HS 136):

Once Kumara's partner in crime, Hamilton was perhaps the most feared batsmen for a period in the early 2010's- evidenced by the fact he averaged over 45 for three consecutive seasons.

A century-maker of the highest quality, Hamilton has six triple-figure scores in this decade- the best of the lot his 123 in the 2010/11 Grand Final, sealing a famous premiership for Yarragon.

While his recent spell at Buln wasn't the return to form he would've hoped for, his time at Yarragon was incredible and shaped a golden period for the Panthers.

5. Allan Chandler (1767 runs at 36.06, HS 101, 99 wickets at 14.34, BB 5/1)

A veteran of three clubs in the WDCA, Chandler's record in a short period of time in this decade is perhaps the closest to Kumara's out of anyone.

The coach of a Western Park premiership in 2015/16, Chandler's consistency and leadership has left him one of the most revered figures in the league. 10 half-centuries, a century, and a mesmerising spell of 5/1 against Yarragon are only several of many outstanding efforts in this decade.

Despite not playing for multiple seasons, his batting and bowling numbers are only bettered by one in the association.

6. Corey Jagoe (3392 runs at 28.03, HS 124*, 89 wickets at 20.53, BB 5/17)

The most games in the decade belongs to one of Buln's favourite sons- Corey Jagoe, who has played a staggering 138 matches over the past 10 seasons.

In his prime, he was one of the most lethal batsmen and underrated bowlers in the competitionnow, he has evolved into a true allrounder and leader of men out at the Birds Nest.

Three centuries, over 3000 runs and a bowling average of 20 outline Jagoe's consistency, the veteran not having scored under 200 runs in a season since the decade began- a staggering achievement for one of the best in the association.

7. Jason Croft (2298 runs at 23.45, HS 101, 192 wickets at 17.67, BB 6/25)

One of the fiery characters in his younger days in Division 1 cricket, Jason Croft is another pillar of consistency who dragged

Western Park from relegation battlers early in the decade to perennial finals contenders.

The off-spinning all-rounder never had a down-year with bat or ball, highlighted by a 403 run season in Western Park's 2015-16 premiership year, notably on a dodgy Western Park surface.

Coupled with 192 wickets and a few words exchanged on the battlefield, Croft has been a reliable contributor since the ripe age of 15 in the league.

8. Jeff Walsh (2060 runs at 25.75, HS 121*, 164 wickets at15.23, BB 8/21)

Another Buln veteran on this list, Jeff Walsh's stats may not do his overall dominance justice this decade.

For the first half of the decade, Walsh was undeniably the most dominant bowler yearby-year, his first 5 seasons of the decade netting 135 wickets @ 13. As his bowling slightly declined due to injury, his batting improvedthe last two seasons providing 735 runs @ 40.

It's a testament to Walsh's overall cricketing ability, and the fact he has simply never had a down year at any point- it is no coincidence his 2 years of absence from the league has produced arguably Buln's two worst seasons.

9. Sam Batson (2191 runs at 22.13, HS 100, 228 wickets at 12.56, BB 7/6)

Starting off the decade as a mediocre young leg-spinner, Batson has had a drastic transformation to become the league's best quick, and arguably the best bowler over the course of the decade.

With three bowling trophies to his name, a 52 wicket season, four seven-wicket hauls, a century and a premiership to his name, Batson has had a remarkable journey from the first couple of seasons of the decade- when he was a part-time bowler and opened the batting for a shaky Warriors side.

With many more years in his career left, and as the youngest in this side, he will be chasing down some illustrious WDCA records in the near future.

10. Dale Weller (205 wickets at 17.60, BB 7/40)

The premier spin-bowler in the competition for some time, Weller's record over a long period of time for Drouin is unmatched- particularly in crunch time.

His forte being two-day cricket, particularly on turf, his seven-wicket haul in last-year's semi-final, coupled with a marathon spell in the grand-final, illustrate how well Weller has aged.

Despite bowling on a synthetic wicket for much of the decade, Weller has produced over 200 wickets, his average in every season being below 21. He has also provided highlights with the bat, including a century and a 300-run season.

11. Chris Perry (208 wickets at 13.47, BB 9/21)

The final opening-bowler spot was a toss-up between Perry and Simon Gardiner, but the Ellinbank and Western-Park pacemen got the nod for his outstanding consistency and wickets in crunch-time.

Perry's crowning achievements will always be his famous 2016 finals campaign where he netted 12 wickets in 2 innings, and a stunning 921 against his former side at Western Park (the best figures of the decade).

A master of swing-bowling, Perry's work with the new-ball is unmatched in the past 10 seasons, and despite a departure out of the league last season, he deservedly rounds out this side.

Honourable Mentions:

Drouin’s Simon Gardiner (261 wickets at 15.10) was a narrow exclusion from the side, as one of the best fast bowlers in the league, he sits just behind Chris Perry as the 12th man for the decade.

Sanjaya Gangodawila (2022 runs at 28.89), another talented batsman who just couldn’t sneak in. Gangodawila’s ability to find runs when it counts stands up against the best of the best.

Ryan Williams (2357 runs at 20.15, 159 wickets at 16.30), he just misses selection, but Williams can hold his head high. Abatsman who can deliver and a bowler who can damage.

Brad Wadlan (1740 runs at 37.02, 104 wickets at 13.05 from 47 matches), a superb batsman with incredible strokeplay in one innings who then transforms into a crafty bowler the next.