“We just want to get out there and play some bloody cricket.”
That’s the sentiment of a frustrated Burger King Red Star captain Jeremy Anderson, who hopes to get their Coastal Challenge campaign underway tomorrow against Weraroa in Levin.
Red Star had the bye for the first round, and then last weekend’s second-round clash with Whanganui Marist was abandoned, meaning the players have survived on a diet of T20 cricket since the final round of the Furlong Cup three weeks ago.
There are three changes to the side named to play Marist, with Wairarapa representative captain Jared van Deventer and left-arm spinner Quinn Childs unavailable, while in-form medium-pace bowler George Deans has been ruled out for the season with injury.
Deans’ loss is a big blow, as he had been a consistent performer with the ball and had contributed valuable runs batting in the lower order.
Hard-hitting all-rounder Gus Borren and veteran medium-pacer Jared Watt come into the side, and Rathkeale batter Andrew Taylor is likely to be included in the playing eleven.
Jeremy Anderson is uncertain about what to expect from Weraroa, who have been one of the easy beats of the combined Horowhenua-Kapiti, Wairarapa, and Whanganui competition in recent years.
The Levin-based side defeated three-time champions Paraparaumu in the first round but were dismissed for only 110 in last weekend’s washed-out game with Kapiti Old Boys.
The inclusion of Horowhenua-Kapiti top order batters Prabodha Arthavidu Ellawala Liyanage and Blake de Burgh, representative medium-pacer Jaedyn Dawson, and former Wairarapa representative Kelsey Fahey would suggest Weraroa pose a bigger threat than in recent seasons.
Jeremy Anderson is confident that Red Star have the likes of Robbie Anderson, who has scored four centuries this season, including his maiden rep 100, Central Districts under-19 opener Jake Jonas, wicketkeeper-batter Nathan Elliott, and hard bitters Gus Borren and Mark Steventon to post a big total on the placid Weraroa Domain pitch.
The bulk of the bowling will fall to medium pacers Peter Sigvertsen, Jared Watt, Patrick Wootton, and Jonas, while Trey Bidois and Jeremy Anderson will share the spinning duties.
The players will have one eye on the weather, though, with showers forecast for tomorrow afternoon in Levin.
Probable Red Star team: Jeremy Anderson [captain], Robbie Anderson, Jake Jonas, Gus Borren, Nathan Elliott, Mark Steventon, Trey Bidois, Peter Sigvertsen, Jared Watt, Patrick Wootton, Andrew Taylor.
