The season draws to a close

With the season drawing to an end, the Crusaders can look back on a much-improved performance from them throughout the season. Not only did they finish second in their T20 group, but they did well enough in the one-day and first-class leagues to not be relegated. The Crusaders’ final official match of the season comes in the form of a playoff on Friday.

With season-ending activity preparations underway, the club is bustling with team news regarding player personnel, including players who will be leaving the club.

Probably the biggest name on the list is that of Marc Weeks, the 30-year old middle-order batsman who became the first Crusaders player to score back-to-back first-class centuries. Weeks has had limited opportunities this season in league matches due to the younger players being shown preference in the middle-order, however, he has been able to participate in some 2nd XI friendlies which allowed him to produce a top score of 49. Overall, Marc Weeks played in 28 first-class matches with a highest score of 122. In 41 limited-overs matches, he scored eleven fifties with a best of 96 in a SA Cup match.

Other players who are not being renewed at the end of the season are batsman Jimmy Mokoena, and quick bowler John Immelman, both of whom are 26 years old and who have also not been regular features in the Crusaders league matches. Immelman played in 11 first-class matches for the club, taking 25 wickets with a best of 5/17. In 40 one-day matches, Immelman picked up 62 wickets with a best of 5/12. Mokoena was more geared to first-class cricket and he played in 14 matches, scoring a best of 84 as opener.

Club captain Michael Prince commented on this news, “Over the last two seasons we have been looking towards reducing the squad size, and at the same time have funds available to develop schoolboys through the Academy. Unfortunately these three players have been adjudged as excess to the needs of the club, evident by the minimal cricket they have played this season. These guys are good guys and I know that they will succeed wherever they end up.”

There had also been talk amongst the administrators about releasing one of the frontline spinners onto the transfer list, due to the fact that both Prince and John Simpson offer the option of part-time spinner. Chris Kotzo was the one that the administrators were considering, but manager Neville Smeda, along with Prince and Matt O’Shea, took the stand that Kotzo’s experience, especially in the spin department, are required to nurture the teenaged spinners into becoming quality spinners. Prince pointed out that Hayward’s 44 first-class wickets this season have been a result of the excellent coach that Kotzo has been to him.

At the awards ceremony on Saturday, Matt O’Shea is expected to be named as club captain for next season, with Graeme Jeremy as his vice-captain. O’Shea had taken over as skipper of the first-class matches mid-season, giving Prince the opportunity to focus on his batting which had slumped somewhat.