And at Bethanga Cricket Club, Haydyn Roberts is relishing his new role this year of vice captain.

Leading the league’s wicket taking and topping the club’s batting, there will be plenty of his teammates hoping he can lead the club as they chase Eskdale’s 229 today.

“The vice captaincy means a lot more responsibility,” Roberts said.

“It means I can’t go out there and throw my wicket away any more.

“And I’m enjoying it, it’s good experience for me and hopefully it will improve my cricket.”

Roberts bagged 4-29 last week in the only game in the round not to be washed out, taking his season tally to 15.

But after five games last year he was on 25 wickets before a broken leg while playing hockey interrupted his year.

“It’s taken a bit of pace off and I’m probably not as fit as I was last year,” Roberts said.

“To be up to that many wickets and then to lose it, it was pretty disappointing.

“But this time I see my season going pretty well and hopefully keep it up for the whole year.”

Roberts put his successful year down to the support of his teammates.

“I love cricket, I enjoy the seriousness of it but I’m out there to play with my mates,” he said.

“We have a pretty good team spirit, we’re all mates around the club, it’s a good tight group and hopefully we keep it that way for a few years to come.”

All that’s lacking is a little consistency.

“We’re a bit up and down,” Roberts said.

“That’s mainly because we’re young and lacking experience, but we’re improving each year.

“We’ve made 250 on this pitch before so 229 is definitely getable — if everyone gets their head down and knuckles down we can get the win.”

Bethanga skipper Brodie Sirl said the club needed more figures like Roberts to stand out.

“He’s having a good year so hopefully he keeps that going,” he said.

“He’s stepped up and he’s filled the number three spot we needed filled.

“But we really want someone to put their hand up today, to take hold of the situation because we can’t be relying on Robbo every week.

“It’s definitely there for the taking for whoever wants to, and there’s blokes there who can bat.

“Tom Packer has made runs in B grade and is in form, so’s Robbo.

“Brad Taylor needs to fire and he’s very capable — we bat right down.

“As long as we bat out our 70 overs and bat in partnerships, work with the bloke that’s at the other end, we can get there.”