English imports fill the gap

Two of Laidley’s leading lights from last summer, opening batsman Brendan O’Keefe and all-rounder Gerard Sippel (inset), have moved to Toowoomba.

Rob Williams

LAIDLEY have been hit by the loss of two of their star batsmen for the coming Ipswich Division One cricket season.

All-rounder Gerard Sippel and opening batsman Brendan O’Keefe have both moved to Toowoomba, leaving a “big hole” for the 2009-10 runners-up.

But before other clubs start sensing weaknesses in the Blue Dogs, they should beware.

Laidley will welcome two English imports, one of whom has English first-class experience, to plug the hole.

Alex Welsh is a right-hand opening batsman and left-arm orthodox spinner who has represented the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) Universities, Yorkshire under-19s and the Yorkshire Academy.

He will be joined at Laidley by Leigh Walker, also an opening batsman.

The pair was referred to the club by former player Dan Wilson, brother of Laidley skipper Chris, who has spent the off-season playing in England.

Even without the two imports, Laidley were better placed than most clubs to deal with the departure of two key players.

“It has definitely left a big hole,” Chris Wilson said.

He nominated Ryan Hurley, who hit 104 in last season’s Division Two grand final, and Cameron Sippel as players who could comfortably fill the breach.

“We had about 15 players last year who would have played first grade at most clubs,” Chris said.

Another player he expects to feature in the Blue Dogs top grade this summer is young bowling all-rounder Michael Topp.

“He was only 15 last year so he played reserve grade, but he’s a big, strong lad,” he said.

Combine all of that with a bowling line-up featuring Michael Sippel, Ben Gibson and Jarrod Bichel and an experienced core of batsmen and Laidley will still be the team to beat, particularly given the losses experienced by their main rivals last summer, Northsiders and Marburg.

Chris would not be surprised if there is change in the pecking order this season.

“A few of the clubs are in the same boat as us,” he said.

“It will be interesting to see how it all pans out.

“Centrals realistically should be getting stronger.

“With such a strong junior base, I would have thought it was only a matter of time. Even Strollers if they’ve got Craig (Cumming) and (Michael) Ridgewell.”

They all have the challenge of trying to better a Laidley team highly motivated to avenge last summer’s grand final loss to Northsiders.

Laidley won the one-day competition and led the two-day competition all season up until then.

“There is a lot of incentive to try and get the title back,” Chris said.

“Having won the two years before, we’d like to make amends.”