Starting strong: The RSL-Whitney Cup's top five players so far

There's been no batsmen who's piled on the centuries and no one bowler to take multiple five-wicket hauls.

Instead, the standouts so far in 2020/21 have been the all-rounders.

There's a number of players towards the top of both the runs and wicket charts and their abilities to make an impact with bat and ball have made all the difference so far.

Here are those players, in no particular order, who have impressed the most so far this summer.

An easy one to start with. The leading wicket-taker in the competition up to this point with 19 to his name. He's got a gap on the rest with four different bowlers sitting behind him with 14 each to their name.

Knaggs is also striking at an average of just 10 with the ball in a stellar first half of the season.

With fellow quicks Bailey Edmunds and Ben O'Donnell missing games so far this summer Knaggs has been forced to take the new ball regularly and it's helped him take his bowling to another level.

His performance on the fateful Saturday where CYMS knocked over Souths for just 22 is one of the best from a quick in recent times. He was virtually unplayable that day, with vastly experienced Hornets batsman Greg Rummans describing the delivery which bowled him as one of the best he'd ever faced.

His batting is yet to take off an Knaggs is only averaging 12 so far this season but he's proven himself a handy contributor.

The Cougars' top order has been pretty reliable so far this season but if Knaggs can also start firing with the willow his side will likely stay where it is inside the top three.

READ ALSO:

- 'Incredible' Rahman one to watch after starring in Barons' championships win

- Western captain Coady 'may dominate' colts championships

- Region's best wanted for Rams as country titles returns to open-age

Last summer Smith was just making the trip from Parkes to Dubbo for the odd game with the Blues.

Fast forward 12 months and he's now vital to the side's premierships hopes.

The Western Zone all-rounder was seeking a higher level of cricket when he agreed to come to Dubbo last season and while Macquarie has been good for his game, he's been great for Macquarie.

Smith is the leading run-scorer in first grade up to this point, with 361 runs scored at an average of more than 60, while he's one of only five bowlers in the competition who's completed more than 45 overs and has an economy rate less than four runs an over.

Macquarie has plenty of depth but Dan Medway is set to depart after the Christmas break, meaning all-rounders like Smith will be even more important.

Lee Price put his hand up to open the batting at Newtown last season and a few eyebrows were raised in opposition lineups.

More well known for his bowling in recent seasons, Price opted to fill the gap left by club stalwart Wayne Dunlop and while he might not be piling on the runs 'Dunners' did he's been a valuable replacement.

Price is the joint-leading wicket-taker at Newtown with 14 scalps at an eye-caching average of 13 while he's inside the competition's top 10 run scorers and is averaging more than 30.

He's quickly developed into an important figure for his side and challenging established Newtown players like brothers Mat and Steve Skinner as the vital all-rounder in the lineup.

Lachlan Strachan seems to become more valuable to CYMS with each passing week.

Whether he's showing aggression at the top of the order with the bat or getting through valuable middle overs and confusing batsmen with his subtle changes of pace, Strachan has been key to the Cougars' success up to this point.

He has 14 wickets to his name while he's scored the fifth most runs in the competition and while he might always seem like he's battling through a number of injuries, he's proven himself highly reliable for CYMS captain Ben Knaggs.

In a bigger plus for CYMS, he's shown an ability to knuckle down with the bat when needed but he's still capable of dominating an innings, as shown when he made 74 not out when the Cougars chased down Souths' total of 89 earlier this month.

Just a class act with ball in hand. As skilled a bowler as there is in Dubbo, Smith has again led from the front for Newtown this season.

One of the four bowlers in second place on the wicket-taking charts with 14 to their name, Smith has bowled almost 10 less overs than those he's equal with while he's bowled roughly 20 less than leader Ben Knaggs.

A zippy bowler with an ability to move the ball, Smith has also chipped in with the bat this season.

Playing from the middle or lower order, Smith has made scores of more than 20 three times this season.

They might seem like small contributions but if the Newtown top order can truly fire in the second half of the season and players like Smith continue to do their bit then the Tigers are every chance of forcing their way into the top three.