Experienced district coach Richard Harvey has joined the team at Birallee Park and taken on responsibility for the bowlers.

Raiders coach Josh Warren-Marmo said the impact had been immediate.

The cellar dwellers took on Lavington on Saturday and, but for some spilt catches, could have dismissed the likely finalists for less than 150.

“‘Bull’ joined us post Christmas and the effect has been amazing,” Warren-Marmo said.

“He brings knowledge, experience and a professionalism to the club at training and on game day.

“The response from the club was there to see on Saturday and at training where we were getting 25 and we are now getting 40-plus.

“We know people were looking at us before Christmas, we knew we were going in the wrong direction and needed to do something to turn things around.”

Warren-Marmo said Harvey had allowed him to concentrate on the batsmen.

“Bull brings a new voice to the squad and we have split into two groups — bat against ball, just like it is on any Saturday,” he said.

“There was no magic bullet to changing our fortunes but the message to the bowlers has been pretty simple.

“Bull told them they need to be prepared to bowl 80 overs on any given day and that no matter how well we were travelling there would be moments where things don’t go our way.

“He believes the mark of the cricketer is how they respond to those situations.”

Warren-Marmo said Harvey’s inclusion had also been the time to ring the changes.

On Saturday the Raiders had seven new players from the squad that started in the game before Christmas.

“We couldn’t have gone any worse so it was time for some fresh talent,” he said.

“Jess Griffiths came back and the Clark brothers — Pat and Shawn, who has come back from Tasmania, as well as Ryland Head will all make a huge difference to the team.

“We believe with our best squad on the park we can be competitive against the best in the competition.”