GSCA 2023-24: Narrow losses and strong recruitment inspire Australs for an improved cricket season

A strengthened Australs outfit is aiming for a vastly improved season in the Great Southern Cricket Association. The Katanning-based club has recruited players during the off-season and is confident that valuable lessons learned from challenging losses last season will prove key to their success this campaign. Australs won only one game last season but president and captain James Douglas said the club has been busy in the off-season building a team to challenge for finals. “We’ve got a couple of players coming in plus two players returning,” Douglas said. “We have recruited Holly and Axle Pearce from Mt Barker as well as Abi Jamal who returns to the club. “So we’re hoping we can improve on last year.” Douglas said the team boasts a well-balanced blend of youth and seasoned experience, which will help transform their narrow losses into victories. “Last (season) we were very close to winning quite a few times but just lost,” he said. “We have a couple older and experienced blokes into the team, a few returning players plus a young crop coming though. “So we have a good mixture of youth and experience. Australs travel to Tambellup, who finished third in 2022-23, in round one and Douglas said it’s a the perfect match to claim a big scalp. “As long as we come to play and enjoy the game, that should set the tone for the year,” he said. “Hopefully we can surprise them and get and early win on the board.”