YOUNG Wendouree skipper Cole Roscholler considers himself fortunate to be surrounded by great mentors as he learns the art of being captain.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Roscholler, who has just turned 23, has led the club’s Twenty20 charge and filled in as captain for a one-dayer last season.
Now it is his turn to step up as captain for the club in Ballarat Cricket Association club firsts.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to be given this season and something I didn’t expect,” Roscholler said.
“I’m in a very blessed situation to have guys like Heath (Pyke), Eamon (Johnson) and Gavin Webb to fall back on and float ideas past.
“It’s reassuring as well to have go-to senior players that will tell me if they think my ideas will work.”
Roscholler is keen to put his “own touch” on the Red Caps’ captaincy.
Soundly beaten by reigning premier Mount Clear – the team that claimed the title after five summers of Red Caps rule – in the opening round, Wendouree has chalked up wins against Ballarat-Redan and Coronet City.
The Red Caps’ next assignment is a one-day match against North Ballarat and a win would help to break the club firsts’ deadlock that has all top seven teams locked on two wins.
Individually, the added responsibility does not appear to have taken the edge off Roscholler’s game.
The opening batsman has knocks of 26, 41 and then an impressive 154 off 135 balls against Coronet City in a rain-shortened one-day game last week.
It continues Roscholler’s stellar streak against City. Tthe past three times he has faced City, Roscholler has made 291 runs in the seconds, 148 in the firsts last summer and his 154 for an average of 197.67 against City.
“Just luck on the day,” Roscholler said.
“It’s been good to spend some time in the middle of the innings and make some runs.
“This season I’ve had a couple of good starts but the first couple I’m still kicking myself that I couldn’t go on with it more.
“Everyone likes to make runs late in the season, but I’d never knock back making a hundred last week.”
Roscholler said his team was piecing together well but he looked forward to the return of injured quick Eamon Johnson mid-season to really strengthen the line-up.
But the chance to expose more young players was always a positive for the club’s future, Roscholler said.
melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au