ADCA season preview: Collingwood Park lose key players but recruit Scottish international Oliver Davidson

Collingwood Park are set to lose a host of big names but remain determined to improve on a disappointing 2021-22 campaign in the Albany & Districts Cricket Association. Matt Heberle, Leroy van den Dool and Nick Barrow all remain unlikely to play, according to captain Brad Bootsma. Heberle captained Park last year and Bootsma said while there was a chance he could feature late in the season, he was not counting on it. However, Park have received a major boost in the form of exciting international recruit Oliver Davidson who recently represented Scotland at the ICC Under-19 World Cup. The 18-year-old all-rounder played five matches at the World Cup, scoring 134 runs at an average of 26.8 and taking seven wickets at 27.8. Bootsma said Davidson was an exciting prospect, but Park would have to call on more of their youth if they were to improve on recent results. “There aren’t many ins so we’re going to rely heavily on our young players this year like Rory Luscombe and O’Shea Durack,” he said. “With Ollie Davidson coming on board, hopefully O’Shea can come on a little bit as well. “He’s (Durack) a left-arm spin bowler so it’s the same sort of craft and maybe Ollie will be able to help him in that space.” Bootsma is hoping Park can surprise the competition with an injection of young energy. “We were sort of going through a bit of transition anyway, so we’ll put a bit of time into the young ones, give them some confidence and autonomy to play some good cricket. The more games we can get into them and the more confidence we can get into them, we might end up going all right. We’ll have some good stability in the side and we’re gonna give these young ones the confidence to know they’ll have the backing of myself but also the coach and the club.” Park face Manypeaks in the first round on Saturday. COLLINGWOOD PARK Captain: Brad Bootsma Last season: Fourth Most runs: 140 (Nathan Dovey) Most wickets: 12 (Josh Dallimore)

ADCA season preview: Collingwood Park lose key players but recruit Scottish international Oliver Davidson

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