Luke Sibley has been appointed as coach of reigning Agrade premiers Beaconsfield after a stint with Tooradin.WEST Gippsland cricket clubs are gearing up for the new season with several undergoing major changes in personnel over the offseason, with the biggest upheaval being at Officer.
The Bullants’ nest has boiled over with last season’s allround star imports John Simpson, Chris Pentland and coach Jack Hayes moving on.
Pentland and Simpson are tipped to be heading to Narre Warren in the Dandenong and District Cricket Association, while Hayes has been appointed captain of the South Melbourne Cricket Club second XI.
South Melbourne will relocate to Casey Fields on Clyde Road, where the facilities are well advanced and anticipated to be ready for the coming season.
Hayes, a former Country Week captain, will be a huge loss to the WGCA. Pentland and Simpson were also in the Western Warriors’ 200405 premiership squad.
Jason Wingrove has been appointed coach at Pakenham UpperToomuc and is likely to be joined by clubmates from Knox. The Yabbies are hopeful that Ken Fielder and Pat Garvey will be back from their playing stints in league cricket in England in time to start the season.
Brad Francis has left a hole in the Clyde batting lineup with his departure to Fountain Gate, while Luke Sibley has left Tooradin to take the reins with last year’s champion Beaconsfield.
Cardinia has announced last year’s Narre Warren coach Cameron Knight will coach the young Bulls this season.
In other news the WGCA Cricket Show will be heard online this season. Radio Casey completed a deal with Telstra and Chisholm TAFE to secure broadcasting facilities so that all programs can be heard on the internet, allowing access for cricket fans in areas of low FM reception.
