BACK IN BUSINESS: Paceman Tom West is set to make his return from a knee injury for the Griffith under 18s in Sunday’s Creet Cup clash with Lake Cargelligo.
YOUNG gun Tom West will make his long-awaited return to cricket this weekend ahead of the Griffith under 18s Creet Cup side's meeting with on Lake Cargelligo on Sunday.
West will pull on the whites for the first time since October, when he battled through a knee ligament damage sustained playing Australian football.
"There will definitely be cobwebs. You don't expect him to be spot on from the start but it's good to see him coming back and playing cricket again," coach Richie Alvaro said.
The 17-year-old's inclusion in the side comes at the perfect time, with another boom paceman Alex Flood unavailable on Sunday.
"We'll miss him, but that's one less selection headache for me," Alvaro said.
"Floody's come on in leaps and bounds in the last couple of years."
Alvaro senses this is his youngsters' best opportunity to break their Creet Cup duck against another side yet to register a win this season.
"We're a good chance. We've been unlucky in the last few of our games," he said.
"The fellas are competitive and they're not in this to make up the numbers.
"The guys we send up each year are very, very good. This is a great chance for them to get a bit more experience playing against some senior cricketers.
"It's nice to win, but in the end, that's what we're here for to give these blokes that opportunity. It's the next step forward for them."
Alvaro said he would be looking out for big contributions from skipper Tom Shannon and teenage strokemaker Fletcher Josling on Sunday.
"Tom's taking a bit of time to adjust to the responsibility of being our captain but hopefully he can come through for us on the weekend," he said.
"And I've been really impressed with Fletcher. He's got talent and I like the way he keeps the scoreboard ticking along."
