Ex-Services are aiming to find more “consistent” form when the new Armidale Cricket season gets underway this Saturday.
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Last season was a mixed one for Servies with patches of brilliance followed by batting collapses.
Club president Brad Widders said it was a trend they intend to break with much of the same side returning for the coming season.
“As a unit we started to come together at the end of last year so if we can build on that then that will be good.
“But it is all about having fun and making sure we are out there enjoying ourselves.
“We just have to be more consistent with our batting.
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“If our batting turns out to be as good as our bowling and fielding has been then I think we can be a lot more dangerous in the competition.”
“If our batting turns out to be as good as our bowling and fielding has been then I think we can be a lot more dangerous in the competition.
“That has been [the same] for the last couple of years, we are always rocks or diamonds with it.”
Widders said the side’s young guns have benefited from last season in the top grade.
“Benji Marshall, from what I have heard, has started the year off pretty good in some of the rep games so if he can bring that form into the senior grade, that will help us out,” he said.
“Towards the end of last year he matured as a batter -learned how to build an innings and understood that it is not just about smacking everything into the fence for a four.
“John Elliot, this will be his second or third year in charge and I think he is maturing into that role for us as a club.
“For someone like myself who is a life member and a president, to see these young fellas come in and take leadership roles is really good.
“I am looking for a big season from 'Golden Lips' Jarrod Burton.
“I think he has got the potential to be a superstar.”
After a grand final finish in last season’s one-day series, City are aiming to fly even higher in the coming competition.
Unlike their fellow first grade sides, City will boast a close to full-strength line-up for the opening round.
Kyle Taylor returns as skipper and said they have added two new members to their squad.
“The team is looking really strong at the moment,” he said.
“We pretty much have the first grade team available, the only fella that is not there is Andrew Skinner this weekend.”
“Everyone has been keen, a few of the boys were keen a couple of weeks ago.
“We started training a month ago, just every second week of a Saturday and the boys said they were keen for the season to start already, they were itching to start.”
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