Rep squad emphasises training intensity as rain washes out local cricket

The first round of the Burns Cup is less than two weeks away, scheduled for December 12.

But so far this season, only two rounds of the five scheduled have actually been played.

After the Goulburn District Cricket Association's 2021/22 representative side was announced last week, hopes were high as it featured many of the brightest talents to emerge from the region alongside several of its most proven performers.

But even the best players need time to shake the off-season rust, which is usually done in the opening games of each season.

As many First Grade players have only played a single match so far, they have been given almost no opportunity to find the kind of form they will need to prevail against Yass next month.

However, GDCA representative vice captain and co-selector, Dean Roxburgh, said the side has been training diligently in the absence of match practice.

"The only positive about it is most of the boys are getting their training in, they're just not playing the games," Roxburgh said.

"That's the only positive we can take out of this weather at the moment, it's generally holding off early week so the boys are getting in a couple of net sessions.

"It's just this lack of game time that's going to kill us."

But, Roxburgh acknowledged, the sheer volume of talent within the team is formidable and will give Goulburn a vital advantage in the upcoming Burns Cup fixtures.

"I'm very, very confident in this rep side," he said.

"It's probably the best I've seen in a long time on paper, but obviously you can be great on paper and then you've got to put it together.

"This is still a side that hasn't played together before, but I think the overall balance of youth and older heads as well is going to do us some good."

As a leader in the side, Roxburgh has put his coaching experience to good use and come up with training programs for the younger members of the squad.

Though there is no substitute for matchplay, these programs are designed to test each of the players and improve key skills which will aid them as their careers progress.

"These young guys bowl well to each other in the nets, but it's to keep the high-profile players bowling and batting against each other," he said.

Aside from all else, however, Roxburgh emphasised the importance of the team's fielding skills.

"The fielding is our number one priority," he said.

"It doesn't matter what level of cricket you play, if you're the number one fielding side, nine out of 10 times you'll win the game."

The GDCA side will take on Yass in the first round of the Burns Cup on Sunday, December 12 from 10am at Victoria Park in Yass. The second round of the competition will be played on January 9 from 10am at Goulburn's Seiffert Oval.

Did you know the Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.