IT was not too long ago that a representative cricket match between Bathurst and Dubbo’s open teams would see the latter start as rank underdogs. How times have changed.
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A renewed passion and commitment from Bathurst’s leading players has turned the city’s first XI into one of the heavyweights of the Western Zone.
Last season Bathurst was crowned the Western Zone Premier League champion, its win in the decider coming against a Dubbo outfit which had handed it so many heavy defeats in years past.
This Sunday Bathurst and Dubbo will once again do battle in the opening round of the state-wide McDonald’s Cup knockout competition.
Dubbo will have hosting rights, but Bathurst skipper Jameel Qureshi has every reason to feel confident in his side.
“Things have changed and I think it all sort of started two seasons ago when we beat Parkes in Parkes,” Qureshi said.
“We sort of had the same group of guys and all the boys who are in that side, it is such a pleasure to play with them. I don’t think I have ever played in a team where everyone is so happy to see everyone else do so well.
“I think when you have got a side like that, you are headed in the right direction and it is very nice to be a part of a side like that.
“We know that if we play our best cricket, we are going to be very hard to beat.
“It’s a massive game. It would be a very nice game to win.”
While the Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade competition only resumed last Saturday, a number of the competition’s best did get representative game time last Sunday.
Though it came in the T20 format Regional Bash competition as part of the Central West Wranglers squad that Qureshi skippered, he thinks it will help.
“I think a lot of those 12 guys in the Wranglers were from Bathurst, it was a good hit out and it definitely blew a few cobwebs out I think,” he said.
“There is nothing like game time under your belt and any game time you take for those bigger games.
“Henry [Shoemark] on Sunday in that Wranglers game, he went in at three and was monstering a few guys there.”
Josh Toole made 92 on Saturday and former skipper Daniel Casey 76 as both opened the batting in Bathurst grade games. Talented all-rounder Aaron Seymour put on 47 while Ben Orme snared 5-26 off eight overs.
It is that sort of talent that has Qureshi excited ahead of Sunday’s match.
“I am looking forward to it, these are the sort of games that you want to play in. You want to test yourself against the best, you want to prove yourself and absolutely Dubbo has a good group of players to start against,” he said.
“When you have got guys like Aaron Seymour and Matt Stephen batting at 10 and 11, you know there’s depth.
“We played against Aaron [in club cricket] last Saturday and he looked awesome with the bat. I know he’s not known for the bat, but I grew up with him and I know how good he is, he’s an all-round cricketer.
“It’s good showing up on Sunday and playing cricket with guys like that. I always say to the boys that anyone in that side can win us a game, it’s just a very talented group of cricketers.”