Rain ruined his hopes of Twenty20 glory with Eastern Suburbs last weekend and Tim Armstrong is hoping the same doesn't happen for Orana Outlaws after agreeing to become the squad's marquee player this season.
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Armstrong was one of the most exciting sporting products to come out of Dubbo and is a former Australian under 19 representative who also played for the Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League.
He will return to his home region and add serious firepower to the Outlaws as they aim for a return to the Plan B Regional Bash finals day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The Outlaws' season begins at Orange's Wade Park on the weekend with a clash against the Central West Wranglers.
The Wranglers have beaten the Outlaws in the first round the past two seasons but the biggest threat to Orana's hopes or revenge may well be the weather.
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Rain is scheduled for Orange right through until Sunday, when the opening round fixture is scheduled to be played.
"I've been unavailable in the past because we've had our own Twenty20s in Sydney. But we had a couple of washouts on the weekend so we're out of contention now and it made me available," Armstrong said.
As much as he wants to help fire the Outlaws back towards Plan B Regional Bash glory, there were other reasons Armstrong was keen to return.
One of those is playing alongside close mates like Mitch Bower, who has been named Outlaws captain, and former RSL-Colts teammates like Jason Ryan and Chris Morton while Armstrong is also keen to keep connecting with younger players from the western area.
Every Regional Bash squad must have four players who are under 21 and one of those for the Outlaws, Tom Coady, is someone who already has linked with Easts.
"I'm still trying to create a bit of a path for when young Dubbo cricketers come to Sydney, Easts is the place to be," Armstrong said
"I keep in touch and there's some good young fellas there. Some have even come to have a hit in Green Shield so they've already got the foot in the door."
If play does go ahead, the approach Armstrong takes will be a fairly simple one.
A former booming all-rounder, Armstrong concentrates more on his batting these days and has begun the new Sydney Premier Cricket in fine form.
He's scored more than 200 runs in the opening three rounds and currently averages more than 100.
"I like to open the bat and go hard when the field is up and try to put on a big score and then the rest takes care of itself," Armstrong said.
The Outlaws take on the Wranglers from 1pm at Wade Park on Sunday.
- ORANA OUTLAWS: Mitch Bower (c), Tim Armstrong (marquee), Myles Smith, Tom Coady, Charlie Kempston, Lachlan Strachan, Steve Skinner, Marty Jeffrey, Jason Ryan, Ben Knaggs, Ben Strachan, Bailey Edmunds, Jonah Ruzgas, Zac Bayliss, Doug Potter, Mat Skinner, Jacob Hill, Gaurav Sharma, Chris Morton.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
