FORMER Sri Lankan first class cricketer Geeth Alwis is hoping he can change the batting culture at Ovens Valley United as he begins work as the club’s new coach.
The Sri Lankan star comes to the Tigers as player-coach for the next two seasons with an extraordinary wealth of experience in grade cricket in England and Australia.
Upon landing, Alwis looked through the team's previous A grade season who, despite claiming the one-day shield, were bowled out within 50 overs on all but two of their two-day innings
Alwis said he has set out to change the batting fortunes of the Tigers.
“I always believe in the process to get the results,” he said.
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“I’m more focused on the two-dayer, to try and bring the winning culture back to the club and to show the players how to play the format, especially with the batting.
“We also need to bring the juniors into the senior system and invest in them in senior cricket so we’re bringing in at least two or three players every year.”
After amassing 3000 runs and 100 wickets in a six-year first class career in Sri Lanka, Alwis first moved to Australia in 2014 where he would play nine seasons with St Albans in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association (VTCA).
In his time at St Albans, Alwis won two flags, was named VTCA Player of the Year twice, was a six-time club champion and captained the first XI in the 2022/23 season.
During the winters from 2015-2019, Alwis also was a player-coach in England.
Alwis and his family shifted to the region three weeks ago and he said the move to Myrtleford had been a long time in the making.
“I contacted the cricket club about my interest of moving to regional Victoria about three or four years ago,” he said.
“We made that connection and worked through a long-term plan which worked out perfectly for us.
“Everything has been good so far; the club has welcomed us in the best possible way and they’re trying to do everything they can to help make s comfortable.”
The batting all-rounder will slot into the top order of Tigers seamlessly, alongside new names like UK import Gregor Fraser and Michael Roberts coming into the side this season.
Alwis said he was looking forward to a different type of cricket in the WDCA, with 40 over one day matches and the separate one-day competition shield, which is not an element of the VTCA.
“It’s hard to say what to expect at the moment, but with the one-day competition final, I think it will be more competitive than what I played in Melbourne," he said.
“I think it’s an advantage for every team because there’s two options, while we won the flag last year in the one dayers, we didn’t do too well in the two-dayers.”
Alwis and the club have been back at training since mid-September as the season is set to commence on October 12.
Ovens Valley United will hold a season launch at Club Savoy on the eve of their Saturday, October 12 opener against Benalla at the Gardens Oval.
