Corowa’s dynamic cricket allrounder on-field captain coach, Ben Mitchell, believes he has “a more complete side this season”.
At least three experienced, highly regarded cricketers from North Albury will debut for Corowa Cricket’s A Grade side on Saturday week.
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Arriving at Ball Park with premiership experience the trio will bolster the Roos’ line-up when the team travel to Les Cheesley Oval, Wodonga, in the opening match of the Cricket Albury Wodonga 2025/26 season on October 11.
High-order batting all-rounder who bowls leg spin, Cal Langlands is the Roos’ new vice-captain.
Langlands brings multiple CAW Provincial A Grade premierships and Riverina representative experience to Corowa.
Keeping wickets will be Ben Fulford, who is a hard-hitting middle-order batsman.
A strong wicketkeeper who was selected as the Australian Country wicketkeeper at the latest championships, Fulford joins Corowa after a premiership-winning period with North Albury.
Paceman and handy batsman Blake Elliott will round out the trio.
Hamish Starr, also from North Albury, is currently on his honeymoon and will miss the first couple of weeks.
Starr is a NSW Country representative and former Manly Cricket Club player. He led North Albury's bowling attack to a premiership last season.
After six weeks of pre-season training at the Cricket Albury Wodonga hub, Roos’ on-field coach Ben Mitchell is pleased with the club’s recruits.
“Ben and Cal will both play first up, and everyone knows what they are going to bring to the group, premiership experience and a very high quality of player. I think they are exactly what we have lacked to be that polished side,” Mitchell told The Free Press.
“Blake has really impressed me during pre-season, his control with the ball and his pace. He has also shocked everyone with how he is hitting them with the bat.
“We are excited to have Hamish. He brings premier cricket and NSW Country experience and will go a long way to filling that opening bowler role.”
The dynamic all-rounder coach is also pleased with the club’s younger cricketers. “We have always had a very talented back of youngsters and you only have to look at the under-16 premiers being such a force,” Mitchell said.
“Joe Lavis will open the batting in A Grade this year and will show the entire competition how good he is. Not many kids have ‘it’, but Joey has it; he’s had a huge pre-season in the NSW Country high-performance squad and will be ready to hit the ground running.
“Tyler Abley got a fair bit of A Grade cricket last year, and being a young leg spinner he will continue to develop and is highly exciting. He’s already a constant in the Northcote Under 18s side.
“Angus Massey, Blake Keenes, Ethan Lane and Jack Eales will all feature in A Grade at some stage this year without a doubt and are all highly talented.”
Youngster Joe Lavis is expected to have a big season for the Roos and will open the batting in A Grade this year.
Training has been good, with solid numbers throughout the A and B grade squads and “everyone has bought into what we are doing”, Mitchell said.
“With most of the side playing footy as well, the boys are always supremely fit.
“I think we look like a more complete side this year, we have depth with the bat and although we have lost Hatts, we have picked up Starry and Blake Elliott, who will join Nick Grant, Jay Lavis and Mark Athanitis in the fast bowlers’ cartel.”
A big loss to Corowa Cricket Club will be dynamic allrounder Jarryd Hatton, who, after several seasons with the Roos, will play with St Pats this season. Injury prevented Hatton from playing most of last season.
Star batsman Matt Wilson has moved to Canberra with his school teaching career. Shaun Smith, wicketkeeper and also a star bat, has returned to Sydney.
“You could write an entire article about what Hatts did for this club. He will be greatly missed, but we all admire what he did for us,” the coach said.
“Matt Wilson is playing Premier cricket for North Canberra and, from all reports, will open the batting in first grade. He showed in the Riverina side last year how good he can be, and we are all backing him to succeed in Canberra.
“Shaun Smith has moved to Sydney and will play his cricket for Campbelltown Ghosts. We knew he was with us for only one year, and we loved every second of it. He has unbelievable talent, and under the guidance of the great Jeff Cook at Campbelltown, he will get every chance to show it.”
Corowa’s second game, on October 18, is against North Albury. What a match it will be, with the Roos’ quartet of recruits previously North Albury stars. Corowa’s first home game will be the third round, on October 25, against Belvoir.
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