An integral cog in the wheel for the Shamrocks, who have won five of the past nine flags since Anderson returned from six seasons for Glenorchy, the devastating batsman's Cricket North retirement leaves a large hole.

"From a playing point of view, it's a massive loss for us and we've got a big hole there to fill in the next season and the ones going forward," said 2019-20 premiership captain Dan Murfet.

"You can rely on Ando to give you 500-600 runs a year if not more sometimes and it's probably not going to be one person to stand up and fill that hole, it's going to be a collective effort from the youth that we've got coming through now to hopefully step up and make the most of what opportunities there are.

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"In that sense, it's exciting that there's going to be these opportunities on the cards."

Admitting that the star batsman's move to Hadspen wasn't expected after previously informing the squad of his non-playing plans next season, Murfet praised Anderson's commitment to the Shamrocks.

"Dane's commitment to Westbury throughout his whole cricketing career is fantastic and he's incredibly loyal and a great clubperson.

"The stuff he does away from the on-field stuff is highly valued at Westbury and he's still definitely going to be doing some things behind the scenes for the club and on the committee and that sort of thing.

"There's definitely no bad blood, we wish him all the best and I think with all the different offers that he's turned down over the last 10 years since he's been back at Westbury, you can't blame him for taking up an opportunity that fits in with where his life is situated from a work point of view and his family at the minute."

Leaning on the knowledge of the man he described as one of Westbury's greatest-ever batsmen and captains during his inaugural season as leader, Murfet says life without Anderson is going to be hard to adapt to.

"Having Dane there beside me in the slips for most of the year, I couldn't have had a better person there to guide me along in my first year. Not having him out there on the field with his cricket nous and experience is going to be difficult.

"Certainly it's going to be more difficult for me and I'll look to rely on more of the guys like Jono Chapman and Nick Spencer next year and draw upon them even moreso without Dane there."

Anderson finished his Cricket North career by scoring 570 runs, including three centuries, in his final season.

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