Tom Reece.
SUCCESS has been kind to young Wendouree batsman Tom Reece.
For the past five years, Reece has ended the season with a premiership medallion around his neck.
The 21-year-old played in three-straight flags with Essendon in Melbourne’s premier cricket ranks, before featuring in the Red Caps’ Ballarat Cricket Association club firsts grand final triumphs of the last two seasons.
“I’m very lucky and hopefully there is a few more to come,” Reece, now in his third year with Wendouree, said.
“You look back on it, I’m only 21 and to play in five senior premierships is a pretty good effort I think.”
Reece, who also won two junior premierships with home side Newstead, said Wendouree was a great environment for cricketers to shine.
“It’s very well run in terms of the committee and there is a very good culture around the club,” he said. “There is some very good cricketers here that have stayed around for a long time because it’s an enjoyable place to be around.”
Reece said the Red Caps were well placed to make it five-straight first eleven flags in season 2012/13.
“Out of our first eleven premiership side from last year we haven’t lost one player, so that’s obviously a good sign,” Reece, a former under-18 and under-21 Central Highlands captain, said.
“You’d like to think so, as long as we keep training well and stick together as a side and don’t become complacent because we haven’t lost anyone. Everyone can probably improve, and I’m sure if we all do that, hopefully we will be there at the business end of the season again.”
Reece said he hoped for an improved year at the top of the order after only shining late in the 2011/12 campaign.
He ended the season with 260 runs at an average of just over 37 in the firsts, which included half centuries in both the semi-final and grand final.
tim.oconnor@thecourier.com.au
