When the Sun Sets, Your Bike Light Takes the Lead 
New Malvern captain Tom Rickarby is confident his new recruits and growth from within will be enough to send the Roosters back up the Subbies ladder.
Tom Rickarby knows the type of captain he wants to be when he leads Malvern next season.
He wants to be a lead by example captain that is inclusive of all of his teammates and the driver in the Roosters’ aspiration to contend in the Subbies South/East division finals.
Test spinner Michael Beer has stepped away from the Roosters, leaving Rickarby – who played 123 Premier Cricket First XI matches – to take the reins of a new-lock Malvern side.
Rickarby’s record is quite understated, making 3536 at an average of 31.85 for Richmond and Camberwell Magpies before carving out 2328 at 52.91 in all formats for Malvern.
Along with the inclusion of former state quick Andrew Fekete and all-rounder Chris McCormick, Rickarby expects organic growth from the club’s younger players.
“We have a lot of young players who are coming out of their schooling, in their early 20s who we saw a lot of growth from last year,” he said.
“The growth from within is where we see that improvement of performance.
“Fek’s got nothing to prove, he has been a fantastic player for a very long time at higher levels than he will be playing this year.
“He brings a competitiveness but also the support he will give me as a new captain and the knowledge he can pass on to the younger players.
“He will be a great fit to the club culturally, I am really looking forward to having him around the club.”
The Roosters endured a disappointing 2022-23, collecting just four wins.
Rickarby said the Roosters failed to capitalise on opportunities due to lapses in games but is hopeful a focus on stability will surge his side back into the top six.
“I think it’s our consistency, we play some really good cricket but we drop off for periods,” he said.
“If we can become more consistent throughout the club, not just first grade, we will see us rise back up the ladder where we should be.”
The Roosters are extremely optimistic with future prospects Sam Arthur, Sam McInerney and Will Beattie.
In addition to those, Malvern has a trio of exciting brothers at the club: the Copplestone’s (Josh and Ned), the Ryan’s (Cooper and Jack) and the Appu twins (Laxman and Ashwin).
Originally published as VSDCA: Recruits and organic growth to awaken Roosters, says Rickarby