After missing a finals berth by the barest of margins, West Gambier hopes it can avoid the same heartache in the 2020-21 Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association season.

The Roos lost a top-four place to eventual premier North Sportsman’s by 0.1 of a point and returning captain Richard Crute has no doubt where he wants to see his team in March next year. “We should be playing finals I think,” he said.

“Last year we were a little bit unlucky with a couple of matches that didn’t go our way and to miss out by the smallest margin was disappointing, but that is cricket.”

Crute captains the Barber Shield team for another season after a strong personal performance in 2019-20, but will have some new faces stand alongside him in leadership positions this summer.

Young all-rounder Sam Willis has decided to take the next step and lead West’s Twenty20 assault.

The Roos have always been a challenger in the shortest format and Crute believes Willis is the right man to take over from long-time leader Niall Easterbrook.

“It will be Sam’s first time captaining at West and he definitely has the talent to do it,” he said.

“The quick thinking of a Twenty20 should be a bit of fun for him because you sort of make it up as you go thinking on your toes.

“Niall has led the T20 side for the last three to four years and with Bianca being pregnant, he wanted to take a step away from the responsibility side of things.”

West’s B Grade side also has a new leader with Stephen Hughes ready for captaincy.

Hughes was a regular in the A Grade squad last summer and Crute said he was glad to see his team mate take on the extra responsibility.

“Steve played A Grade last year and I think he just wanted to try his hand at leadership,” Crute said.

“I thought it was fantastic Steve already wants to step up and take on a leadership role after only being at the club for a year.

“He has my full backing.” Another major change in the senior sides will be the notable absence of veteran all-rounder Shane Dycer.

Dycer has played over 190 matches for the Roos and returned to the Barber Shield team last summer.

He has always been a potent threat with the ball and his experience will be missed.

However, Jake Blackwell will make a comeback after missing 2019-20 due to injury and has recovered from a shoulder reconstruction.

Crute said he did not have the full picture of his entire playing list yet, but was encouraged from the enthusiasm at the team’s opening training session and hopes some juniors can make the elevation to senior cricket.

With a solid group behind him, Crute said the key to unlocking the desired finals place would be moving as one through the season.

“It is just about getting more consistency and improvement from the 11 people we have to get into the top four,” he said.

“Then if you make finals, you don’t know what is going to happen.”