SA country cricket’s top 35 players of 2022-2023 so far
SA’s regional competitions are filled with top cricketing talent and with the season in full swing we’ve ranked our top 35 country cricketers. See who made the list.
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Country cricket season is well underway and some of the state’s best regional talent has braved the weather to take to their local pitches and compete for silverware.
Based on this season’s form, and with the help of the state’s regional associations, we’ve ranked the top 35 players across SA country cricket so far this summer.
Here are our rankings from 35 to 1.
35. EMERSON MARKS – Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association
(East Gambier)
Marks has had another strong season so far for the Bulldogs, standing out as a consistent bowler who keeps opposition to low run rates.
He has 10 wickets and 40 runs for the season and should continue to be a force for his side as they aim to solidify a top three spot.
34. NATHAN ALLEN – Lower Yorke Peninsula Cricket Association
(Warooka)
Allen has been a top performer for Warooka this season, keeping the club in finals contention with consistent batting and handy bowling.
Allen has made 134 runs in five innings this season and has also taken five wickets as Warooka charges toward the top five.
33. ALEX HOSKING – Port Augusta Cricket Association
(Quorn)
Quorn’s captain and opening batter, Hosking has the ability to win games off his own willow and can also bowl with the best of them.
Hosking’s best performance this year has come with the ball, taking 4/8 against Central Augusta.
32. RYAN SELKIRK – Roxby Districts Cricket Association
(Olympic Dam)
Selkirk has been a dominant force in Roxby cricket for years and has continued to bat at a class above with balance, technique and power.
He can also pitch in for the attack and has taken multiple wickets this season.
31. JAMES RYAN – Roxby Districts Cricket Association
(Olympic Dam)
James ‘Jim’ Ryan is an intimidating quick and a talented bat with years of district and county cricket experience.
The pacy bowler has more than 10 wickets this season and has also made timely and important totals for his side, scoring in excess of 100 runs.
30. BRAD HAZELGROVE – Great Flinders Cricket Association
(Kapinnie/Mount Hope)
Hazelgrove has led by example near the top of his side’s batting order, tallying several strong totals.
He has 269 runs on the season so far and a top score of 109 not out in round seven.
29. DREW MCDONALD – Port Augusta Cricket Association
(Central Augusta)
Arguably the best player in the PACA, McDonald has captained the Tigers to multiple successes through the years and looks set to continue this season.
McDonald is a reliable opening batter who can also take multiple scalps with the ball and should be a major factor after starting the season strongly with multiple double-digit totals and wickets.
28. CONNOR MADDERN – Port Lincoln Cricket Association
(Charlton)
Maddern has amassed more than 200 runs so far this season and picked up 10 wickets to back up his batting prowess.
The Charlton star’s best performances so far are 115 runs, 56 runs and a 5/8 bowling spell in 8.4 overs which included four maidens and a catch.
27. BEN BROWN – Port Pirie Cricket Association
(Props Panthers)
Brown has been the leading wicket taker in the PPCA so far this season.
The Panthers captain currently has 15 wickets after multiple strong performances, including a 4/21 showing against Wandearah in round five.
26. BEN SMITH – Port Lincoln Cricket Association
(Southern Eyre South)
Smith has been one of SA country cricket’s top all-rounders for years and has continued his PLCA dominance this season.
The association life member has been effective with both bat and ball, chalking up spectacular performances of 63 not out and 2/3, and 96 and 6/3 already this campaign.
25. ZAKK BULLARD – Murray Towns Cricket Association
(Karoonda)
Bullard’s season for Karoonda has seen him sit among the MTCA’s best bowlers.
The Magpies gun has taken 14 wickets this season and has two standout performances of 5/8 in round three and 4/22 in round one.
24. JASE BATEMAN – Millicent and Naracoorte Cricket Association
(Footballers Furners Beachport)
Bateman has been a star for FFB and sits among the best all-round players in SA country cricket.
A capable bowler, Bateman has taken more than 10 wickets, including a strong performance of 3/9 against Mount Burr, and has scored nearly 200 runs through his six appearances so far.
23. LACHLAN BARRETT – Alexandra and Eastern Hills Cricket Association
(Macclesfield)
Barrett has been one of the stories of the Alexandra and Eastern Hills competition in 2022.
The gun Macclesfield bowler has played nearly every game and currently sits second in wickets taken with 22.
Barrett has been the key to the Redbacks’ third place run at present.
22. BREDON SMART – Millicent and Naracoorte Cricket Association
(Townies)
Smart has maintained his top quality ability this season, captaining Townies to second spot on the ladder so far.
One of his club’s most productive players, Smart has 200 runs and five wickets in six appearances.
A 126 not out round six performance remains his best so far.
21. ROB MCCARD – Barossa and Light Cricket Association
(South Gawler)
Predominantly a bowler, McCard’s batting performances has caught a few by surprise in the BLCA.
The returning South Gawler star has racked up 11 wickets so far this season but has also tallied 75 runs in four appearances as a bottom order batter.
His best bowling sits at 5/24 against Willaston.
20. LUKE GIDDINGS – Great Southern Cricket Association
(Goolwa)
Giddings has hit hot form as of late and looks to be near his batting best.
After a slow start to the season, the Magpies batter has tallied 173 runs in his last two innings to take his current total to 219 runs for the season.
19. DANIEL KEYS – Hills Cricket Association
(Scott Creek/Ironbank)
Keys has been a standout bowler in the Hills CA yet again in 2022 and is off to a hot start to his 2022-2023 campaign.
The Scott Creek/Ironbank gun has picked up 15 wickets at a lowly return of 12 runs a match.
Keys’s best performance sits at 5/19 this season.
18. GLEN MULDERS – Yorke Peninsula Cricket Association
(Paskeville Boors Plains)
Mulders has been one of the most effective bowlers in SA country cricket this season.
A consistent bowler with a variety of deliveries, Mulders has taken 14 wickets for a total return of less than 60 runs.
His standout performance came with a 5/12 spell against Arthurton.
17. OSCAR TYDEMAN – Hills Cricket Association
(Meadows)
One of the best wicket-keepers in country cricket, Tydeman remains an invaluable asset for Meadows in the HCA.
Tydeman has taken seven catches so far and has also proved dangerous with the bat, scoring 241 runs - including a total of 108 in round 10.
16. JOSH BOYLAN – Murray Towns Cricket Association
(Mannum)
Boylan has been Mannum’s most consistent and dangerous all-rounder this season, performing well with both bat and ball.
The Murray Towns gun has taken 17 wickets so far, with a 4/30 performance against Monarto being his standout spell.
Boylan has also battered 223 runs with a top score of 90 not out.
15. BEN WARREN – Alexandra and Eastern Hills Cricket Association
(Langhorne Creek)
A legend of the Alexandra and Eastern Hills Cricket Association, Warren has maintained his reputation as one of SA country cricket’s best all-rounders.
The 2022 club best and fairest currently sits top six for runs with 219 at an average of 43 and has also taken nine wickets through several damaging spells.
14. JAMES MOSS – Lower Yorke Peninsula Cricket Association
(Stansbury)
The Kangaroos captain has been a tough dismissal this season, regularly building strong totals to lead his side to the top of the LYPCA ladder.
Moss has nearly 3o0 runs so far including a top score of 114 against Minlaton.
13. JARED MARSTON – Murray Towns Cricket Association
(Mypolonga)
A former state country side member, Marston has remained as one of the star players of the Murray Towns Cricket Association.
Captain of top side Mypolonga, Marston has tallied 237 runs in six appearances and has also shown his ability to pitch in with the ball if a breakthrough is needed, taking three wickets so far.
12. JAE ALISAUSKAS – Yorke Peninsula Cricket Association
(Wallaroo)
Wallaroo’s captain has been at his best with the bat this year.
In just five appearances Alisauskas has tallied 260 total runs for his side, including an impressive 120 not out in round nine.
The club leader currently has his side in top spot of the YPCA.
11. NATHAN FITZGERALD – Alexandra and Eastern Hills Cricket Association
(Bremer/Callington)
Bremer/Callington remains a chance for finals cricket this year, and Fitzgerald has been a big factor in the side’s challenge.
The gun bowler leads the competition with 24 wickets for an average return of nine runs.
10. NICK MCINERNEY – Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association
(North Gambier)
McInerney and his North Gambier side have experienced a challenging season with weather, but it has not stopped the star captain from performing as one of the competition’s best all-rounders.
In five appearances, the Tigers captain has tallied 168 runs near the top of the order and has also taken 10 wickets including a 4/25 effort against East Gambier in round three.
9. BEN THIEL – Barossa and Light Cricket Association
(Greenock)
The reigning BLCA player of the year has been a standout for his Greenock side yet again during the 2022-2023 season.
The club captain has led by example so far, taking 12 wickets in four matches with pacy delivery and also tallying 91 runs.
He is a big chance to win another league medal.
8. BRODIE O’DEA – Alexandra and Eastern Hills Cricket Association
(Langhorne Creek)
A star player of the Alexandra and Eastern Hills competition, O’Dea has led his Langhorne Creek side to the top of the ladder yet again.
The Tigers skipper has excelled in the field with eight catches and despite performing more inconsistently than usual as an opening bat, he still averages 35 runs a game.
O’Dea’s top score this season is 145 off of 127 balls against Bremer Callington.
7. JOSH HEALEY – Hills Cricket Association
(Mount Lofty)
The star Mount Lofty captain has been back to his best during the 2022-2023 campaign, scoring consistently high totals for his side as they charge ahead at the top of the HCA ladder.
Healey has 437 runs from his seven matches so far and his top score remains a spectacular 169 off of 118 balls against Mylor in round one.
6. DANIEL JENNER – Alexandra and Eastern Hills Cricket Association
(Hahndorf)
Jenner has been on a tear so far this season, topping the run count in the Alexandra and Eastern Hills CA.
With 358 runs total at an average of 44, he has been the standout batter and should play a major part in Hahndorf’s attempt at a flag.
5. ADAM CARTHEW – Hills Cricket Association
(Mount Lofty)
Carthew has been a major reason for his club’s top spot effort so far in 2022-2023, the gun bowler also proving his worth with the bat.
He has 18 wickets at an average return of just seven runs, with his best bowling a 4/14 effort.
Carthew has also scored 208 runs at an average of 30, a strong effort for a bowler at the bottom of the order.
4. SIMON ROBERTS – Great Southern Cricket Association
(Willunga)
A star all-rounder in SA country cricket, Roberts has been at his brilliant best this season.
The Willunga champion has picked up 22 wickets at an average run rate of nine, and has scored 200 runs including a 113 not out effort in round six.
He is the reigning GSCA Cricketer of the Year and a former Bradman Medallist with Sturt.
3. MATTHEW MARTIN – Alexandra and Eastern Hills Cricket Association
(Lobethal)
The reigning association player of the year has been a consistent force with the ball yet again this season and is nearing his best in the second half of the campaign.
Martin currently ranks in the top three for wickets with 15 so far, and he has also been handy with the bat.
The star has 74 runs, often producing a valuable total at the bottom of the order.
2. JAYDEN CREES – Great Southern Cricket Association
(Goolwa)
Crees has been a force in the GSCA this season, dominating with the ball.
The Magpies captain and star quick has amassed 32 wickets so far, including an incredible 8/11 in round four against Mount Compass.
The former state country team player has his side on top of the ladder.
1. ROHAN REID – Hills Cricket Association
(Meadows Cricket Club)
An SA country cricket legend, Reid has remained a dominant force in the Hills Cricket Association at 40-years-old.
The star veteran has scored 532 runs in his six matches for Meadows so far this season and has three centuries – a 116, and two 120 not outs.
Reid has also been handy with the ball, taking six wickets for an average return of 20 runs.
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