He's got himself a fairly young team this season, so new Centennials Bulls captain Kyle Aubin isn't setting the expectation too high for his team.
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Aubin, who replaced Kurt Toole as skipper in the off-season, is hoping that his team can improve and cause plenty of headaches for the Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket leading teams.
But Centennials have a tricky start to the season, as they host reigning premiers Orange City in week one before back-to-back local derbies against Bathurst City and Rugby Union.
OTHER BOIDC SEASON PREVIEWS:
- ORC: ORC ready to make its return to Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket
- RUGBY UNION:Strong start to BOIDC season will be crucial for Rugby Union
- CITY COLTS:Russell Gardner to lead City Colts during the 2021-22 BOIDC season
- ST PAT'S OLD BOYS: St Pat's Old Boys skipper Adam Ryan wants redemption after last season's BOIDC grand final loss
- BATHURST CITY: Redbacks skipper Joey Coughlan vows to 'give it a red hot crack'
Having a fairly young side compared to other teams in first grade is something Aubin is happy to be leading.
"It's a fairly young side this season, which is what I like, with a bit more enthusiasm in the side," he said.
"There's not really any big expectations. Hopefully we can cause a few upsets here and there and just be competitive like last year, which is kind of the goal."
Centennials have recruited the likes of Tom Siede from last season's minor premiers St Pat's Old Boys, but Ethan Muller has moved on to ORC.
Aubin is excited about the prospect of Zane Newham, who made his debut for Centennials towards the end of last season, playing a full season at the club.
Hopefully we can cause a few upsets here and there and just be competitive like last year.
- Centennials Bulls captain Kyle Aubin
"He played the last couple of games for us towards the end of last season," Aubin explained.
"He'll be with us for the whole season. That's a pretty big bonus because I don't think we lost a game with him."
Newham played the last four matches of Bulls' BOIDC 2020-21 campaign and had no issues adapting to his new environment, taking 11 wickets including a four-for on his first grade debut against City Colts in January.
Centennials are expected to get more games out of second grader Calvin Windus, who featured in just the one first grade last season against Rugby Union in November.
BOWLING
Aubin admitted that the Centennials bowling department lacked depth last season but with a few new faces in the team and with the prospect of a full season with Newham, he's feeling a lot better.
"That's one good thing for this season is we've definitely got a lot of bowlers, when is the past few years, we've been a bit short," he said.
"If I had got injured or Kurt, we'd be pretty short. This season there's less pressure on myself and Kurt and with Zane coming in, I think he'll have a pretty big season. I'm looking forward to having him for the full season to see what he can do."
Mick Hutchinson was Centennials' leading wicket taker last summer, with a total 23, which placed him in seventh in the overall BOIDC wicket takers.
BATTING
Aubin rated former skipper Kurt Toole as the one to watch with the bat this summer.
"I'm thinking Kurt will have a good season," he said.
"He finished last season pretty well and hopefully this time round with a little less stress with the captaincy, he can focus on his batting.
"I reckon he's in for a good season because he's looked pretty solid in the nets."
Aubin's brother Blake was by far the leading bat at Bulls last summer, with 426 runs from 14 innings for an average of 42.60.
Toole was second best at the club with 272 runs, while this season's skipper had 258.
Tyler Horton also managed to crack 200 runs, a player that Aubin is hoping will impress this season all-round.
THE FAVOURITES
Like all Bathurst BOIDC clubs except for themselves, St Pat's Old Boys has been installed as Aubin's pick to win this season's premiership.
"It's a tough one but I don't think you can rule out St Pat's at this stage, with the line-up they have and the form from last season," he said.
"But obviously all the Orange sides can win it on their day."
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