SACA Premier Cricket top 25 players to watch in 2022-2023
From new recruits to rising stars and solidified champions of the competition – we’ve got the top 25 players to watch when SA Premier Cricket returns this weekend. See who made the list.
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SACA Premier Cricket season is finally upon us, with first grade men’s and women’s competition beginning this weekend.
While a wet preseason has proved challenging for the competition’s clubs, new recruits, emerging guns and solidified stars are set to hit the ground running in the 2022-2023 campaign.
Ahead of the weekend’s big matches and with the help of club coaches we’ve listed the first grade players to watch this season.
Here they are in alphabetical order of club.
LIAM GREBER
(Adelaide Uni)
Greber looks set to have a strong 2022-2023 season after being set back by injuries last year.
A quality bowler with all-rounder potential, Greber can do damage with the ball and bat and has some of the highest potential among the Blacks’ list.
Took 18 wickets last season and has been looking more dangerous in attack through the preseason.
WILL BOSISTO
(Adelaide Uni)
Uni’s champion captain is coming off yet another top drawer year and has his mind set on leading his side to silverware in season 2022-2023.
Bosisto finished as the fourth-highest run scorer in Adelaide cricket last season and topped the premier cricket rankings by a single run.
He also did a job in the bowling attack, taking 21 wickets.
HANNAH ARMSTRONG
(Adelaide)
Armstrong was a star after arriving at Adelaide last season, dominating from the crease for the women’s side.
An electric batter with the ability to get into a zone and punish bowlers off of minimal deliveries, Atkinson made 585 Premier Cricket runs last season with an average of 34.4.
Will be one to watch as she attempts to lead her team to the two-day trophy after finishing runner-up to Sturt.
LAKSHMN SHIVAKUMAR
(Adelaide)
A new arrival for Adelaide, Shivakumar will add to the top of the Buffalos’ batting order.
Previously an opener for Fitzroy Doncaster in Victoria, he is capable of making strong totals and has garnered high praise from coach Steven Crook throughout the preseason.
CAMPBELL THOMPSON
(East Torrens)
A gun left-arm quick who spent most of his time representing Scotch College last season, Thompson is ready for a breakout campaign with East Torrens.
The teenager took three wickets in three games for the Reds last season and is set to benefit from prolonged playing time in the senior ranks in 2022-2023.
RYAN KING
(East Torrens)
East Torrens’ new captain this season, King could be in for his biggest year yet at the Reds.
A talented batter who is also more than capable with the ball, King averaged 36.5 runs at the crease last season with a top score of 93 against Tea Tree Gully while also taking 26 wickets.
Look for him to start aggressively as he leads his side in 2022-2023.
ANESU MUSHANGWE
(Glenelg)
First grade women’s captain and Zimbabwe representative Mushangwe was a dangerous all-rounder for the Seahorses last season and is set for another strong year leading the charge.
The skilled and creative leg spinner is able to take bunches of wickets or restrict scoring with a number of variations.
Can also bat at the top or in the middle of the order.
ISAAC HIGGINS
(Glenelg)
Higgins had a breakout campaign in the 2021-2022 season, scoring brilliantly with the bat for the Seahorses and also representing Australia in the U19 world cup.
The young gun established himself as a dangerous opener for Glenelg, averaging 44 with the bat while also taking seven wickets as a handy pinch-hit bowler.
Should continue to develop at a fast rate through this season and is also on a rookie contract with the Redbacks.
ELIZA DODDRIDGE
(Kensington)
Doddridge will be available full-time for Kensington this season after spending a significant portion of her 2021-2022 season with the SA Scorpions.
She has established herself as one of the best opening batters in domestic women’s cricket, averaging 36 runs last season with a high score of 74 against Adelaide Uni.
Doddridge’s availability this season should keep her among the Premier Cricket competition’s best and will give the Browns a big shot at silverware.
JOSH DOYLE
(Kensington)
Doyle has been one of the most consistent performers in Premier Cricket over the last two seasons and will undoubtedly be a power for the Browns yet again this campaign.
A quality top order with the bat for Kensi, Doyle boasted a 52.32 average through 2021-2022 and also took multiple wickets on 13 occasions across one-day, two-day and Twenty20 competition as a valuable spinner.
AIDAN CAHILL
(Northern District)
Arriving from NSW on an SA Redbacks rookie contract this year, Cahill has been welcomed with open arms at Northern District.
A versatile and exciting talent, Cahill has shown the ability to be a reliable middle order batter at state, international and domestic level and remains a dangerous right-arm quick who bowls blistering speeds.
CHLOE ROSENZWEIG
(Northern District)
Rozenweig is a young leg spinning all-rounder who has captained Barossa and Light in the SACA U19 pathways and is primed to have an impact for the Jets this season.
She is capable of restricting to runs with clever delivery and can take wickets in bunches, with a season-best performance of 6/5 during the 2021-2022 campaign.
CAM VALENTE
(Port Adelaide)
Cam Valente has been one of the major recruits across Premier Cricket in the offseason.
The Adelaide Strikers all-rounder will provide a significant boost to Port Adelaide’s batting and bowling attack with the ability to score highly in the early or middle order as well as take multiple wickets an appearance with his medium paced delivery.
NICK BENTON
(Port Adelaide)
Benton enjoyed a strong finish to his 2021-2022 season and would be hoping to carry the momentum into this year’s Premier Cricket campaign.
The key quick took 36 wickets for Port Adelaide last season including a standout 6/31 performance against Woodville in the two-day competition.
Will be an important part of his club’s attack as they aim for a finals berth after a solid offseason of recruiting.
HUMRAJ SINGH
(Prospect)
Singh is a talented bowler who has continued to improve during his time at the Pirates.
He specialised with the ball in the two-day format last season and has been one of the standout performers in the preseason according to coach Steve Broberg.
Will need to have a big year with the ball if Prospect wants to push for finals.
PAUL WASIEWICZ
(Prospect)
Wasiewicz is a skilful fielder and middle order bat who has developed well under Broberg at Prospect.
He took seven catches from the field in last year’s Premier Cricket campaign and showed progression at the crease, averaging 28 runs and top scoring with 89.
JOSH BARRETT
(Southern District)
Barrett was named the competition’s best wicket keeper for a fifth time last year and should continue his strong production this season.
The Stingrays captain is a safe pair of ands behind the stumps and possesses elite reflexes.
He is also a weapon as an opening batter, averaging 39 runs last season and tallying 129 runs in his best outing, against Sturt.
ALEX PRICE
(Sturt)
Former Adelaide Strikers and SA Scorpions all-rounder is ready for a big year at the Blues according to coach Rhianna Peate.
The 25-year-old is a standout fielder and a strong left-handed batter, averaging 49 for Sturt last season and scoring 87 in her best performance of the campaign.
Has also shown to be one of the best spinners in Premier Cricket with dangerous right arm off-spin delivery.
MATT SPOORS
(Sturt)
Spoors was a star in his first season for Sturt last year and will need to reproduce that level of form again if the Blues are to bounce back from their semi-final loss to West Torrens.
The definition of an all-rounder, Spoors hit consistently large totals as an opener for his club, including a season-best 137 against Prospect, and also took 40 wickets with his strong and consistent leg-spin delivery.
KYLE BRAZELL
(Tea Tree Gully)
Brazell has returned to the Bulls after a stint as a Redbacks rookie and at Adelaide Uni.
One of the Blacks’ best players after Bosisto last year, the gun opener was a terror with the bat, averaging 45 at the crease and tallying two centuries including a 179-run showing against Southern District.
Should continue as one of the competition’s fast risers this campaign.
TIM OAKLEY
(Tea Tree Gully)
Oakley played a major role in Tea Tree Gully’s two-day grand final run last Premier Cricket campaign and will again round out the Bulls’ bowling attack nicely.
The electric speedster took 44 wickets last season including a dominant 7/30 display against Adelaide in a key outright win.
Is capable of completely dismantling any batting lineup and will again be integral to the Bulls’ success.
BAILEY CAPEL
(West Torrens)
Capel was one of the standout batters across suburban cricket last season and has continued to impress Eagles coach Mark Harrity heading into the 2022-2023 campaign.
Often opening the batting with superstar teammate Kelvin Smith, Capel plays a responsible and efficient style at the crease, hitting the balls he can and leaving the deliveries he should avoid.
The left-hander top scored with a remarkable 199-run effort last year and will be key for West Torrens after Ryan Gibson’s departure to NSW.
DANIEL FALLINS
(West Torrens)
Arguably the most damaging bowler in Premier Cricket last season, Fallins remains a supremely skilled leg-spinner for West Torrens.
Boasting a dangerous combination of deliveries and switch-ups, Fallins was colossal in the Eagles’ charge to one-day and two-day premierships last year, accumulating 53 wickets through the campaign.
Will again be a focal point of one of the competition’s best attacks this year.
NIAMH BULLEN
(West Torrens)
A talented batter who has developed her game significantly through the offseason, Bullen will be one of the standouts for West Torrens’ women’s brigade according to coach Daniel Murdoch.
Arriving from NSW last season, Bullen showed potential through the Eagles’ middle order, accumulating 100 runs in two games for the side.
Will be a danger after a full preseason with the club.
CHADD SAYERS
(Woodville)
After missing a healthy portion of the 2022 season, Sayers is committed to playing a full campaign at Woodville, something which has excited coach Jamie Rothall.
The former international and shield all-rounder is set to terrorise orders across the Premier Cricket competition with his dangerous right-arm swinging deliveries and has also proved valuable with the bat upon return to Woodville, averaging 31 runs last season.
If Sayers is at his best this season, his club will make significant noise.
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