He might have lost a marquee player and have one less fast bowler at his disposal than he'd like but Western Plains Outlaws captain Jason Ryan still thinks his side has was it takes to reach the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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The Outlaws' Plan B Regional Bash campaign starts this weekend, with a match against Western Zone rivals Central West Wranglers at Orange on Saturday before clashes with the Illawarra Flames and South Coast Crew on Sunday to round out the Thunder Pool 1 action.
There are four pools in the NSW Country Cricket Twenty20 tournament and the top team from each will advance to the finals day at the SCG later in the season.
The Outlaws have a proud record in the Regional Bash, having won one title and played at four other finals days, and Ryan is determined to keep it going.
"Our goal hasn't changed from when the comp first started," Ryan said.
"Our goal is to make those finals and play at the SCG. Once we get there the goal changes again.
"It's a big opportunity for the boys to get in, play some good cricket, and get to Sydney, which is always a good thing."
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The Outlaws squad was confirmed last week, with Ryan returning as captain and Dubbo junior and former Australian under 19s player and Eastern Suburbs captain Tim Armstrong back as a marquee player.
Former Western Zone representative Greg Buckley was also locked in as a marquee player but is now unavailable for this weekend.
The search for a replacement continues and Ryan, with Armstrong's assistance and knowledge of Sydney-based players, is hopeful a quick can be signed up for this weekend's matches.
With the Outlaws' strength undoubtedly it's powerhouse batting lineup, the performance of the Outlaws bowlers will be vital to the side's success.
It will especially be the case on Saturday against a Wranglers team boosted by their own marquee man, one-time Big Bash League (BBL) player and Regional Bash title winner last season with the ACT Aces, Blake Dean.
"They've done well snagging him," Ryan said.
"It was surprising to me. He was a big part of the ACT side which won last year so I was surprised he jumped ship but he's big player and one of the best Twenty20 cricketers in country cricket so he'll be a big in.
"But it's just one player and even though he did a number on us in the semi-finals last year we did give him plenty of chances. We dropped him three or four times so we've got some decent plans for him and we know what he's about and where he likes to score his runs.
"They've also got some quality Western Zone players in the side but it's up to us to bowl with decent plans and contain them."
Our strength is definitively in our batting.
- Jason Ryan
In young vice-captains Marty Jeffrey and Brock Larance the Outlaws have spin options who will back-up quicks Ben Patterson, Bailey Edmunds, and Mat Skinner while seamers Jacob Hill and Armstrong could also be required to get through a few overs.
Ryan confirmed there were a number of players in Dubbo who had opted not to put their hand up for selection and while that was disappointing the additions to the team this season give reason to be confident.
"We've done a lot of work," Ryan said.
"It started before last season. We had a couple of seasons where we were off the mark and a lot players were unavailable and while it's happened a little bit this year it's not as bad.
"To have blokes like Brock Larance and Ben Patterson back in the mix makes you a pretty strong Twenty20 side."
After playing in Sydney last season, Larance and Patterson will form part of a star-studded batting lineup for the Outlaws this season alongside the likes of Ben Wheeler, Chris Morton, Charlie Kempston, Armstrong, and newcomer Matthew Everett.
"Our strength is definitively in our batting," Ryan said.
"We've got all of our good young batsman scoring runs this year so we'll take 13 to the first game and someone who bats top six in their club side not having a bat.
"You might have to get away with a couple of blokes bowling some meds (mediums) in the middle if you need to make-up some overs but if you're scoring 180 or 200 with a batting lineup like the one we've got you can still win games."
The Outlaws meet the Wranglers at 12pm on Saturday at Orange's Wade Park.
- ORANA OUTLAWS: Jason Ryan (c), Marty Jeffrey (vc), Brock Larance (vc), Tim Armstrong, Matthew Everett, Ben Wheeler, Chris Morton, Charlie Kempston, Mat Skinner, Tom Coady, Bailey Edmunds, Ben Patterson, Jacob Hill, Thomas Nelson.
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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.
