NICHOLS Point have landed the first major coup for the 2020-21 Sunraysia Cricket Association season with the signing of pace ace Luke Coates from reigning premiers Mildura Settlers.
Coates, 23, is regarded as the top fast bowler in the region and has joined the Pointers as their bowling coach to boost their bowling stocks.
“It’s going to be a big change, everybody knows Setts is a powerhouse club,” Coates said.
“I’ve been pretty lucky to be involved in two premierships there. I’m always up for a change and helping other people out other than myself.”
A back injury hampered the former South Australia under-19 cricketer’s 2019-20 campaign, reducing him to 14 wickets in 12 games, but in 2018-19 Coates took 30 wickets in 13 games including a six-wicket haul in the grand final to claim best afield honours.
He said it was a difficult decision to leave Settlers but the chance to make his mark on a smaller club drove Coates to make the switch.
“I’ve played a bit of high-level cricket and I know what I’m talking about. I’d like to help the younger bowlers be the bowlers I know they can be,” he said.
“I sort of wanted to stay with Setts but I thought if I went somewhere else I could help a club like Nichols Point, who haven’t played finals and haven’t been a high-end club, to push themselves for a better outcome for the season.”
He was looking forward to partnering with Nichols Point coach Shaun Mathews and captain Brad Thomas, the club’s two high-profile recruits from last season, to hopefully take the club into a maiden First Division finals campaign.
“I’ve dealt with them before in past Willowfest seasons and Country Week as well, they are good blokes off the field and on the field they are competitive,” Coates said.
“We won’t butt heads, I think we’re close to the same people on the field.”
After batting down the order for Settlers, Coates also signalled he may get his chance to bat up the order for his new club.
“I’ve always known I can bat a little bit but everyone knows Setts have a really good batting line-up and bat pretty deep,” he said.
“It’s always good to get an extra opportunity to have a crack at it.”
After no football in season 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reigning Bambill Millewa Football League premiership player Coates said he would be raring to go come cricket season.
“I’m already itching to play. Every now and then I pick up my bat and ball in my house and start throwing it around getting the feeling for it,” Coates said.
“I’m feeling fit and ready to go.”
Nichols Point have also signed Settlers 2018-19 premiership wicketkeeper Tate Hulland, who spent the 2019-20 season with Tempy in the Red Cliffs Cricket Association.
