Coach Adil Ali arrives back at the Gully

Coach Adil Ali hits Australian shores on Monday 29 September.

To have Adil for this and future seasons may be the biggest coup in the club's 48-year history. The club has had some brilliant coaches, such as Barry Denner, Chris O'Toole and Tim Chisholm, but never before have we had anyone with the playing and coaching experience of Adil. Furthermore, coming from overseas, he is likely to bring a perspective none of us have ever experienced in the game. Be prepared to listen and learn.

Club President Craig Green said "I have been having discussions online with Adil as has vice-president Neil Byers and former coach Dallas Gill. "Adil has no illusions of where the club is at with the senior list. "What we have wanted to hear is that Adil is willing to work as hard as possible to develop our playing list and the talented juniors coming through to make the most of everyone's ability. "Our clubs greatest era in the 90's and early 00's saw an extremely professional training environment, where we did not need to actively recruit, outside players just wanted to join to be part of the success. "This is the mantra the club will ask Adil to uphold and return to, where the club is a destination that local players want to be part of together with developing the players from our juniors."

Adil said "it is easy to get into a side which is ready, they class them self-champions. "For me real long-lasting champions are teams who work from the grassroots and in the youth that keeps them champions for many years."

The comment above is music to the ears of the Committee. Expect far more professionalism given the background of Adil who has been a cricket professional for a number of years. The Committee does not expect everything to turnaround overnight but is confident it will turn.

Adil arrived half-way through our recently completed season, and immediately showed that he has plenty to offer in guiding and mentoring our current and next generation of players to get the most out of their abilities. On-field his game against the premiers of last season Castlemaine United with bowling figures of 25 overs, 13 maiden, 3 wickets for 25 runs, showed his ability to make an impact with the club.

Adil is bringing a lot of knowledge, expertise and experience from his time in the Greater Manchester Premier 1 Division with the Royton and Egerton Cricket Clubs, where as a leg spin bowler, he took over 200 wickets in the last 3 seasons.

Welcome back Adil.

All we ask from our players is to commit to the Club, support Adil, ramp up the professionalism, get to training and work hard. Cricket is a team game and wouldn't it be great to see some premierships at seasons end, or at least team and individual improvement to your games and enjoy seeing each other succeed.

Many may not know what the latin words on our club coat of arms means. "ad augusta per angusta," means "through difficulties to greatness", or "achievement through effort." Never before in our club history these words will reflect the requirements of all club members to summon everything to meet our quest to follow and meet the objectives of the club coat of arms.

Upcoming training for senior teams is as follows:

• Thursday 25 September 5.30pm to 7.00pm at Catherine McAuley College Cricket Hub (Indoors)

• Tuesday 30 September 5.15pm onwards at Maiden Gully Recreation Reserve

• Thursday 2 October 5.15pm onwards at Maiden Gully Recreation Reserve

• Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Rec Reserve thereafter.

• Juniors wanting to play Senior cricket in the afternoon are expected to train on the Thursday.

See you there!