Twenty-five of the best recruits for the 2021-22 Victorian Premier Cricket season
From club crossers and emerging talent, here’s are the best men’s and women’s signings for the 2021-22 Victorian Premier Cricket season.
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Clubs are into pre-season training and welcoming new players to the ranks ahead of the Victorian Premier Cricket season.
From interstate arrivals and a wicketkeeper from the New Zealand club scene, to Frankston Peninsula’s signing of James Nanopoulos, here’s a list of the best recruits so far for the 2021-22 Victorian Premier Cricket competition.
Jacques Augustin, Frankston Peninsula
Brilliant behind the stumps and capable with the bat, Augustin followed James Nanopoulos to the Heat (no doubt “Nano’’ will appreciate having his premiership teammate standing up to the stumps) after becoming disenchanted at Dandenong. What a curious 2020-21 season he had. Dropped to the seconds because of his batting, Augustin fought his way back into the First XI and then spectacularly lifted the Panthers into the grand final with a superb 71 not out against Geelong. He’s no slouch with the stick; he should be setting himself to make at least 300 runs for a team that will need them. Augustin has played 174 First XI matches after starting at Fitzroy-Doncaster in 2008-09 and he would be a worthy 200-game player.
James Bowen, Ringwood
The strong left-arm swing bowler has made the move from Glenorchy, where he ran in with Rams returnee Matt Fotia. Bowen has played a lot of club cricket in Tassie, been a consistent performer and should make his mark on the Victorian scene.
Sophie Day, Prahran
What a blow for Plenty Valley to lose all-rounder Day, who cracked 239 runs at 34.14 last season and also played two matches for the Vics. “We’ve got to move on, we’ve got a young list and we’ll do what we can,’’ Plenty Valley president Darren Callahan responded to news that Day and fellow PV star Sophie Reid were on the move. “We’re putting a lot of work into our female program and doing a lot of work within our academy.’’
Matt Fotia, Ringwood
The paceman is back at Jubilee Park after spending last season in Tasmsania, where he nabbed 28 wickets at 23 for Glenorchy. Quick enough to hurry the competition’s best batsmen, Fotia will bring a jagged edge to the Rams’ attack when he picks up a Premier career that has brought him 160 wickets at 22.41 from his 115 matches. He’s a class act.
Matthew Grant, Ringwood
The left-arm spinner and handy lower-order batsman has joined the Rams from Gold Coast. The 21-year-old trained with the club for the first time last Tuesday and coach Sean Flynn liked what he saw. Grant took 23 wickets and made some handy runs in the Brisbane Grade competition last season.
Tim Hale, St Kilda
The young left-hand opener arrives from Perth with a reputation as a batsman who likes to give the ball a thrash. When his First Grade and Twenty20 numbers are combined he made 533 runs at 29.6 for South Perth last season, including an unbeaten 106. “I’ve watched a bit of footage of him online … it looks like he hits them really well,’’ St Kilda captain Adam Crosthwaite said.
Katia Jomini, EMP
The 2021-22 Victorian female emerging performance squad member has switched to EMP after starting her career at Carlton, where last season she performed creditably with bat and ball. Made her start in cricket in the NWMCA with Ascot Vale and West Coburg, and became a state under-age player.
Ruwantha Kellepotha, Casey South Melbourne
The leg-spinning all-rounder has signed a two-year deal with the Swannies, linking up again with coach William “Will’’ Carr, under whom he had played at Berwick in the strong Dandenong association. Prominent with bat and ball, Kellepotha won the league medal last season. His stature as one of the best cricketers in local ranks is no surprise given he played first-class cricket in Sri Lanka. “He’s at the peak of his powers and the time is right for him to go to Premier level,’’ Carr said of his signing. “He bowls really good leg-break, lots of variety, goes both ways, with unbelievable control … he’s got all the attributes to be a dangerous proposition at Premier level. With his batting, technically he’s very good, with the ability to find the boundary, which is probably something we as a batting group probably lack.’’
Akshay Kodoth, Frankston Peninsula
Another change of clubs for former Indian first-class player Kodoth, 29, who entered Premier ranks after an excellent season with Ivanhoe in the Subbies. He joined Kingston Hawthorn in 2018-19, then crossed to Camberwell Magpies, where he performed moderately in his first season, but most creditably in 2020-21 with 431 runs at 26.9 (he also had 26 dismissals, but, with Jacques Augustin also on board, he won’t be keeping at the Heat).
Joseph Loorham, Ringwood
The Rams have some good recruits and they have a fine returning player, too, in Joseph Loorham, who has appeared in 189 First XI matches. He took last season off because of work and wasn’t around for much of the previous season. New Ringwood captain David King once declared Loorham to be the best wicketkeeper in the state, but Josh Hartill has the gloves now and Loorham will focus on his batting. He’s made 3772 runs for Ringwood, with one century and 18 half-centuries.
Bailey Moon, Prahran
The 19-year-old was named in the Victorian emerging performance squad after making the move to Prahran from Richmond, where he had made his debut in 2019-20. With Andrew Perrin dropping back to local cricket, Moon will slip into the bowling brigade with his right-arm pace and he can also be expected to contribute runs in the lower-order.
James Nanopoulos, Frankston Peninsula
The champion Dandenong all-rounder crossed to the Heat after receiving a too-good-to-refuse, three-year offer. Even the Panthers’ top brass suggested he’d be silly to pass it up. Nanopoulos, 32, is expected to captain Frankston Peninsula, bringing to the role the experience of 236 First XI matches. He’ll lead not only the team, but the bowling attack, operating at medium pace with unflagging accuracy and the ability to make the ball hum, if not talk. It’s a method that has brought him wicket aggregates of 23, 31, 35, 11, 23, 19, 30, 40, 33, 46 and 37 since 2010-11. And on his day his clean-hitting left-hand batting will turn a few games his team’s way.
Edward Newman, St Kilda
Eyebrows were elevated when the left-hander linked with the Saints, surprisingly joining the long list of players leaving Dandenong. As St Kilda skipper Adam Crosthwaite told it, Newman, 21, “knocked on the door’’. “It wasn’t on our radar, it really wasn’t,’’ he said. “Then we got to have a conversation with Ed. He’s a great kid and everyone I speak to about his cricket ability has big things to say. We’re super-excited and very fortunate to have him at the Saints.’’ Newman played 77 First XI matches for Dandenong and broke through for his maiden century last season, blitzing 120 against Melbourne University. His natural talent and his number of runs are out of whack, but the move to the Junction may be the making of the former Victorian rookie.
Maryam Omar, Carlton
A third Premier club for the popular Omar, who played in Dandenong’s premiership team last season, contributing a vital 21 in the grand final against Box Hill. She started her career at EMP before crossing to the Panthers in 2018-19 and offering value with her batting and off-spin.
Jake Reed, Footscray
The right-arm quickie is returning to the Doggies, whom he joined in 2019-20 only to suffer an ACL injury after a handful of games. Reed sat out last season but has proved his fitness playing football for Red Cliffs in the Sunraysia league. He’s living in the bush but will move to Geelong ahead of his Premier comeback. “I’ve got the fire back to give it one more go, while I’m young enough and fit enough,’’ he said. “I’ll be 31 by the time the Premier season starts … but you look at someone like Dan Christian, who’s just been picked for Australia at his age (38).’’
Sophie Reid, Carlton
The top Bat becomes a Blue, weakening Plenty Valley considerably but strengthening Carlton. The wicketkeeper-batter clipped 357 runs at 32.45 last season and is now part of the state emerging performance squad, alongside new teammates Katia Jomini, Addy Campion and Maddi Albers.
Connor Rutland, Carlton
Essendon was as flat as old beer when Rutland told them he was off to the Blues. The Bombers regard him highly and know that his best is in front of him. Although he has yet to produce any numbers worth trumpeting, Rutland bats and bowls well, and as he sets out to become an all-rounder he’ll have Carlton coach Evan Gulbis, one of the state’s best, as a trusty guide. “I think he’s a very good player,” Gulbis said. “I think he’s got the skeleton of a complete all-rounder, just need to work on helping him create that potential into performance. Being able to play with our really strong batting line-up, but also with our bowling line-up will allow him to flourish in our team. Obviously I’m hoping I can help him find something within himself to create performance. I see him as someone who can play from one to seven with the bat and bowl at any stage. It’s a massive signing for us, especially with the movement we’ve had in the off-season. To be able to bring in a player like him, a fantastic talent, is a great signing.”
Yashoda Senarathne, Box Hill
The young all-rounder is a good pick-up for the Mustangs, who coaxed her across from Dandenong. Rating her improving batting – she made her first First XI half-century last season – and medium-pace, Dandy did all they could to retain, but she decided to set her compass east.
Luke Shelton, Casey South Melbourne
There’s no shortage of left-arm spinners at Casey Fields, but Shelton lands as an experienced cricketer with an excellent record. He’s coming off a season in which he nabbed 33 wickets at 19.7 for Mosman in Sydney Grade Cricket. And for a number of years he was a leading player in Darwin, making plenty of runs as well as taking wickets. Expect him to assume the standing of a steadying presence in the Swans side.
Ben Shields, Camberwell Magpies
The Queensland-born wicketkeeper-batsman has linked with the Magpies after recently relocating to Melbourne from New Zealand, where he played at a level similar to Premier Cricket and was in the team of the year last season. The 25-year-old played for Queensland Schoolboys and for the Gold Coast Dolphins before moving over the ditch.
Harry Singh, Greenvale Kangaroos
The 25-year-old fast bowler has become a Kangaroo after a good first season in Premier ranks with Kingston Hawthorn. Bowling right-arm pace, he took 19 wickets at 25.6, with a best of 4-35 against St Kilda, and added 207 runs down the list. “He’s a fantastic addition to our line-up. Very pleasing to add someone of his calibre,’’ Kangaroos coach Damian Shanahan said. “He’s a raw and talented young man with a massive upside.’’
Jenny Taffs, Prahran
The former ACT Meteors and Melbourne Renegades Big Bash player has switched to Prahran as assistant coach. She spent the previous five seasons with EMP, where she played some rattling innings at the top of the list. “Jennifer is passionate about the game of cricket and has a strong aspiration to enable the development of players,’’ Prahran said in announcing her appointment. “She will bring a clear focus and strong communication and engagement to the role along with a great understanding of the women’s game, both from an elite level, as well as developing younger talent. Jennifer will continue to play an active role as a player and will bring invaluable knowledge and experience to the coaching structure as well as on the field through match days.’’
Matt Wilson, Dandenong
Wilson has linked with the Panthers in the hope of showing his all-round ability. He’s a right-arm paceman capable of bowling a “heavy ball’’. Last season he played every game for Carlton and collected a respectable 21 wickets at 23.3. He wants more opportunity with the bat, and he’ll get it at Dandy, who are recasting their line-up after losing LJ Edwards, Ed Newman, James Nanopoulos and Comrey Edgeworth. “He’s a solid batsman, a decent player, and overall he’s going to take on more responsibility at Dandenong,’’ Panthers coach Warren Ayres said.
AND TWO MORE RETURNING PLAYERS
Lucas Dredge, Footscray
Dredge is coming back from a back injury, picking up on a Premier Cricket career that stands at 131 matches. He has 162 wickets at 25.73. Dredge last played on December 7 of the 2019-20 season. “He seems pretty confident in his body,’’ Dogs coach Allan Wise said of Dredge. “He’s a pretty fit guy and pretty diligent, so he’ll be doing a lot of work in the background. I’m reasonably confident he can have an impact but there’s no expectation there either. He’s basically missed two seasons of cricket.’’
Alec Smith, Camberwell Magpies
The all-rounder suffered a knee injury while playing football in Tasmania in 2020 and was unable to take the field for the Magpies last season. They missed his bouncy leg-spin, busy batting and energy in the field.
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