Greater Northern Raiders have thrown their leadership support behind Devonport opener Miles Barnard as the side’s inaugural captain.
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The annoucement was made on Friday night during the new club’s historic season launch at UTAS Stadium.
Launceston captain-coach Alistair Taylor was named Barnard’s deputy for the Cricket Tasmania Premier League side’s debut against Kingborough on October 6.
“I think it’s going to be a challenge because I think on paper we may not have the strongest team in the competition,” Barnard said.
“As captain, there is probably going to be a few challenges that will come along with that. But I am looking forward to a new challenge.”
The 27-year-old proved a standout candidate after the past six seasons in charge of the North West club.
The dashing batsman won selectors over in preseason with his aggressive outlook on leadership alone.
“I just think you have got to take the game on, you have to be confident within yourselves and you have to relish the opportunity given,” Barnard said.
“Whether that means we’ll get outplayed or we outplay the opposition, we’re going to be up against some big names and big cricketers.”
Coach Andrew Gower said Barnard was the right appointment considering the young, brash group playing under the Devonport NPL star.
“You look at experience and what players have done over the journey of the last three to five years, and Miles has certainly stood out as leader, but also as a good player,” he said.
The Raiders were unable to snare back the experience of homegrown stars George Bailey, James Faulkner, Alex Doolan or Ben Hilfenhaus.
But Gower had no qualms about relying on the talent of players from the rank-and-file clubs in the North West and North leagues.
“We are quite lucky to have a range of clubs and support from everyone right across the region,” he said.
“We’ve got some youth and we’ve got some experience as well, so I’m pretty happy with the mix.”
The Raiders named their final side at the launch, still 15 days out ahead of the club’s maiden appearance.
The point was to let the Raiders players focus on the task at hand of playing in the state’s elite club competition.
Gower, who had coached Mowbray last summer, did not want to talk up the side.
“Our number one priority is to be competitive,” he said.
“We just want to be in games and make sure we go about it the right way, just play out the overs and be up for the fight.”