CRICKET Albury-Wodonga Provincial premier Belvoir has appointed Josh Warren as coach for the 2016-17 season.
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In a leadership reshuffle at Kelly Park, Drew Cameron will take over the captaincy from Mick Russell with Warren stepping up to the coaching position left vacant after Dylan Wright stood down on the eve of last season.
Craig Mannagh joins the Eagles as chairman of selectors and net co-ordinator while Kiewa’s Noel Bailey is the club’s new bowling coach.
Warren, 25, has been something of a cricketing journeyman but said he had “loved every minute” of his first season at Belvoir and was honoured to take on the Eagles’ top job.
The dynamic left-hander blasted 622 runs at 56.5 after joining the Eagles from Wodonga Raiders.
“It’s really humbling, to be honest, because there’s seven rep cricketers at the club so to be asked to be coach is amazing,” he said.
“It feels like I’ve been at Belvoir for 15 years – the club has been fantastic to me and my family.
“I can’t wait to work some of the young kids we have at the club like Lachie McMillan, Liam Ross, Mitch Dineen, Will Donaghey and Brad Morey.”
It feels like I’ve been at Belvoir for 15 years – the club has been fantastic to me and my family
- Belvoir coach Josh Warren
Warren said Wright, who is poised to join New City, was the Eagles’ only likely departure with Englishman Jack Holt set to return for another stint on the Border.
He backed Cameron to thrive with the captaincy after impressing in the finals series with Russell standing aside.
Star off-spinner Zac Simmonds will be Cameron’s deputy.
“I think Drew will be terrific as captain,” he said.
“He batted with more intent and took more responsibility on himself in the two finals he was captain, in a similar role to what Robbie Jackson does for Wodonga.
“When you win a preliminary final and a grand final and are 2-0 as captain, it’s a no-brainer.”
Warren was confident the Eagles could handle the hunted tag as they looked to defend their flag.
Simmonds, Nat Sariman and Brad Freake will all return to Belvoir with plenty of cricket under their belt after spending the off-season playing in England.
“I think we have enough good cricketers at the club to realise what has to be done,” he said.
“We won’t shy away from the fact that we are the premiers and we will have to keep improving.
“We’re really looking forward to the challenge – a lot of the guys are already asking if footy season is over yet because they want to get into the cricket.”
