Hoppers Crossing veteran Trent Said has batted no higher than No. 8 in the order this season but is the runaway leader on the batting average list of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s senior division.
Said has been dismissed just once this summer and has an average of 184.
The 35-year-old has batted four times with the tailenders for three not outs and two half-centuries.
The modest Said is happy to mark his average with an asterisk as he says he has benefitted from the hard work of the players above him in the line-up.
“It’s been a fairly good season for me so far,” he said.
“The fact I’ve been coming in at eight means I’ve been facing the older ball … the top order have taken off the shine and it gives me an easier run at it.”
Said has enjoyed a dream return to Hoppers Crossing after two seasons in Premier Cricket with the Greenvale Kangaroos.
Not only is he getting the job done with the bat, he has also produced some tight spells of bowling and has shown a safe pair of hands in the field with five catches, including three in one match.
Said’s decision to return to the Cats was made due to the increasing demands of playing Premier Cricket.
With a young family to think of he felt it was time to wind back his cricket commitments, and he’s happy with life back at Hogans
Road.
“It was mainly a lifestyle decision, to be honest,” Said said.
“I’ve got two little girls – one has just turned one and the other is about to turn three – so playing district cricket, with the hours and the early starts and the requirement to train more, was getting too tough on the family.
“There was an opportunity to come back here … it’s a bit more family-oriented than district cricket where you’re really there more to better yourself and it’s not really a social environment for the family.”
Hoppers Crossing went into the Christmas break sitting in second position on the ladder after losing just once in its opening six matches.
Belief is growing among the Cats.
“I don’t think there’s anyone we can’t beat on our day,” Said said.
The Cats’ attack, led by player-coach Greg Kennedy, who has taken the most wickets (24) in the competition, is the main reason for the team’s winning ways.
And the fielding has been a top-shelf complement for the bowlers.
“It’s been the bowlers, pretty much every game, who have done the job for us,” Said
said.
“We’ve had teams under pressure with early wickets and we’re not letting guys get any easy runs.
“Our fielding has backed the bowlers up. There’s no dropped catches and the guys are diving around in the field. We’re pretty much smothering opposition teams when they come out to bat.”
The Cats are yet to face ladder leader Beaumaris – their clash was washed out along with all other VTCA fixtures last weekend and will be rescheduled for a later date – or reigning premier Yarraville Club.
Those two contests will provide the best insight into whether the Cats have what it takes to go all the way this summer.
