IRYMPLE’S new SCA First Division cricket co-captains Dan Coghlan and Mark Thomson know they have big shoes to fill as the side looks to take the next step in 2020-21.
The pair were announced this week as replacements for 2017-18 premiership captain Jordan Payne after consecutive semi-final finishes.
“It’ll be a good little challenge, obviously big shoes to fill with J.P. and that so we’ll play it as it goes,” Coghlan said.
“Obviously everything is still up in the air with everything going on, so it’s hard to plan a lot but we will see how it goes.”
The pair said as far as they knew, Payne would play on with the club and he would be a vital resource for them in their leadership.
“He’s definitely got the cricket mind and he’s still going to be a big part of us using that,” Coghlan said.
“There’s no doubt he will have a say in things. I say he’d be very much needed.”
Thomson, who moves from being retained coach Shane Garraway’s co-coach to joint skipper, said he and Coghlan would discuss how to split their roles in terms of captaincy.
“We’ll probably play it by ear, we haven’t really spoken about it yet,” he said.
“Whether I play more of a strategic, tactical or speaking role – or whichever way – we will split it that way somehow.
“One of us will probably become stronger at one suit and the other stronger at the other, I think.”
Coming off a 2019-20 season where the Swallows won the SCA White Ball Final, and with a strong line-up including reigning joint Innes medallist Bryson Lush, Thomson said there was drive within the group to push for more success.
“Falling at the hurdle two years in a row hurts a bit and adds to the fuel to make it one step further and get to a grand final,” he said.
“Because you never know what happens if you do get there on the day as we’ve seen before.”
