Devon Cricket Board - Consistency the key says Passenger

Consistency the key says Passenger

TORQUAY CC need a bit more consistency to stay out of trouble this season and avoid being embroiled in another relegation scrap.

The Seasiders returned to the Premier Division last summer after two seasons away with high expectations, which were never really fulfilled.

Torquay did enough to stay up, but had they not beaten Bovey Tracey by five wickets with three rounds to go it could have been a different story. The 19 points earned kept them ahead of second bottom Heathcoat, who finished 11 points adrift of safety.

Justin Yau, who had five years in charge, now works in London so the captaincy has passed back to Ben Passenger, who did the job between 2001-2003 first time around.

Passenger is a thoughtful kind of captain and hopes he has remedies for Torquay’s shortcomings last season.

“Last year wasn’t great due to the bad weather, but we can’t blame that for everything,” said Passenger.

“What is needed is consistency in the way we put sides together and the way we approach the game.

“At times last year we made batting look easy scoring 230 – and difficult getting 130.

“Part of the problem was batsmen didn’t know their jobs and were moving up and down the order a bit too much.

“I will be telling players they will get a chunk of games – three, maybe four – in a spot before they are moved.

“Going back in the Torbay T20 this season should help as it will keep the side together.

“A good midweek evening game against decent opposition has to be better than a bad net.

“And with the 2^nd XI looking a lot stronger under the captaincy of Richard Hawkins, we may have better competition for places, which can only help.

“On last season’s performances I can see a few teams underestimating us. One or two of them are going to get a shock.”

Torquay haven’t been idle during the winter as they have worked hard squad building.

The overseas player is 19-year-old left-arm spinner Dan Wightman from Auckland, who played twice for Central Districts in 2012 in the Plunket Sheild.

Des Kruger, another New Zealander, is a 22-year-old seam bowler from Christchurch who has played for Mid-Canterbury in second tier cricket, although not since 2009. He is exempt from overseas quotas.

Torquay have a second exempt player in Richard Hancock, a South African-born all-rounder with English qualifications, who has played for Bognor Regis.

Gone from last season are Callum Wilson (St Austell), overseas player Aqeel Ahmed and seamer Jon Rice, who is living in Bangkok.

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