South Australia’s top country cricketers: Batting and bowling ranks across 23 regional associations

Every weekend the Bradmans of the bush take to country cricket pitches across SA. We’ve sorted the stats from every regional competition to find out who is No. 1.

From the Adelaide Hills to the Eyre Peninsula, the Riverland and everywhere in between, there are country cricketers starring on pitches all across South Australia.

After compiling rankings of every metropolitan player, The Messenger has delved into the stats to find the top run-scorers and wicket-takers in the state’s regional associations.

Junior, senior, male and female players from 23 country competitions have been included in the full list of more than 7000 cricketers.

Scroll down for the full list and use the search bar to compare how you rank >>

Master of the pitch making stacks of runs

With the amount of time Ben James spends on a cricket pitch it’s no wonder he’s so difficult to remove from the crease.

The Mylor Cricket Club batsman – a ground curator by trade – has hit more runs than any other player in SA country cricket so far this season.

James’ 549 runs at 137.25 in Hills Cricket Association A2 has come with the No. 3 losing his wicket just four times across nine innings.

Mylor batsman Ben James after scoring an unbeaten 123 in the Hills Cricket Association A2 grade in November. Picture: Mylor Cricket Club

The 24-year-old, who came through the junior district system at Glenelg before switching to Mylor in 2018, said it was by far the best start he’s ever had to a campaign.

“I’ve had a couple of decent seasons previously but have taken it to a different level this year,” said James, a curator for Norwood Payneham & St Peter’s Council.

“The last couple of years I’ve got myself out a couple of times and probably left a few runs out there.

“This year I’ve just kept my head down and tried to get the job done.”

James’ standout knock for unbeaten ladder-leading Mylor came in round five against Mt Lofty.

On a hot, humid and rain-interrupted day, the vice-captain smashed 123 not out to hold the innings together as his side posted 8/192 before holding their opponents to 8/165.

James said Mylor, which has a 10-0 win-loss record this season, was a terrific place to play with the traditionally one-team club this year adding a second senior outfit and two junior sides.

“It’s the best up at Mylor. It’s God’s country up there really,” he said.

“It’s a small town that no one really knows about and we’re trying to put it on the map I guess.

“We haven’t dropped a game yet which is the most positive sign so far this season.

“We’ve got to grand finals and played finals every year but fallen short a couple of times. It would be awesome to go that step further this year.”

Mypolonga Cricket Club bowler Aaron Zrim. Picture: Mother Duck Photography

James isn’t the only Mylor cricketer at the pointy end of SA’s top country cricketer rankings.

Captain and club president Michael Warburton sits fourth on the wicket-takers list with 22 scalps at 21.32 so far this season.

But leading all comers with the ball is Mypolonga veteran Aaron Zrim.

With 25 wickets at a miserly 4.4 in nine matches, the economical Zrim leads Nairne’s Mitchell Hein (24), Eden Valley’s John Roesler (23), Warburton and Gumeracha’s Andrew Mapstone (22).

Zrim’s best performance came in November where he took 5/8 as Mypolonga ripped through Tailem Bend to roll it for just 53.

* Representative and T20 matches were not included. Barossa & Light, Mount Gambier & District, Pinnaroo & Border cricket associations (all grades) and Lower Yorke Peninsula A grade players could not be included due to not releasing full statistics on MyCricket.