Sub-District powerhouse Oakleigh and Jayde Herrick part company after just three games

Herrick rolled out for his first match for the Oaks in January but was moved on last week.

Oakleigh skipper Brent Warren said Herrick’s foot injury had prevented him from reaching his potential at Warrawee Park.

“He probably hasn’t been playing to the level he can based on that and we decided to move our side forward ready for the first final and make sure we have a full-strength side,” Warren said.

“It is not a decision we took lightly, but the club felt it was best for the team moving forward and for the club.”

In his three appearances for the Oaks, Herrick managed just two scalps in four innings with the ball.

From his three hits with the bat, he registered scores of 10, 20 and 0.

Oakleigh suffered just its third loss of 2016-17 in the final round of the home-and-away season on Saturday, going down to Malvern by two wickets.

The Oaks, who finished second, will host fifth-placed Coburg in the opening weekend of finals.

However, Warren said he was confident the decision to part ways with Herrick would not disrupt the Oaks’ tight-knit group, which is aiming for back-to-back Sub-District Cricket premierships.

“We’ve got a job to do and our job has been to play finals and be competitive in finals,” he said.

“Our club has never been about one player and if one player does drop off there is always somebody behind him ready to go and be a part of the team.

“We have always said we are a strong team rather than perhaps a few players.

“That is our strength and we will play to that over the next couple of weeks.”