Priest has wedding to attend
JAN Juc has been forced into a change ahead of its BPCA A1 grand final against Anglesea, with experienced all-rounder Iva Priest ruled out.
Priest will be unavailable for the season decider and will instead attend his brother’s wedding, with Mark Zahra to take his spot.
Priest has opened the batting alongside star Ben Grinter since the new year, and has passed 30 five times, providing able support at the top of the order.
The all-rounder has also provided valuable overs throughout the season, having taken 15 wickets at 19.07 and he has bowled his full eight overs in eight of his 13 matches.
Zahra could slot in straight to the top of the order as his replacement, given he opened the batting before Christmas, when he was pushed down the order for Priest.
Sharks captain-coach Jordy Graham said Priest was unlucky, given the season was moved back a week due to an abandoned Covid round in the new year, making the grand final date a week later than originally planned.
“Originally the grand final was meant to be this weekend just gone, they (the BPCA) pushed it back and it obviously fell straight on the wedding,” Graham said.
“There is not much we can do about it.”
The blow comes after Priest wasn’t able to bat in last season’s grand final defeat against Anglesea, when he dislocated his shoulder in the field.
The veteran is a life member at Jan Juc and Graham said his absence would give his team some extra motivation.
“He dislocated his shoulder in last year’s grand final and didn’t get the chance to bat, so it hasn’t worked out well for him,” Graham said.
“There is a bit of motivation for us to get it done for him given he is a life member.”