Dandenong District Cricket Association Turf 1: Your ultimate guide to season 2024-25

Ahead of the Dandenong District Cricket Association season’s opening round, here are the ins, outs and key players for all Turf 1 clubs — and who are the top contenders.

The first ball of the Dandenong District season is set to be bowled this week.

Perennial powers Springvale South and Buckley Ridges will be the benchmark while Berwick, Beaconsfield and Hallam Kalora Park have had strong off-seasons.

We analyse all the off-season news and squad changes ahead of a big summer …

BEACONSFIELD

COACH: Mick Cronin (new)

IN: Dylan Vanderwert (Dandenong), Andrey Fernando (Dandenong), Connor Nel (South Africa), Susantha Pradeep (St Marys)

OUT: Trishane De Silva (Cardinia), Mark Cooper (Cardinia)

PLAYER TO WATCH: Andrey Fernando joins Beaconsfield following a season in which he opened the batting at Premier Cricket First XI level. The left-hander had a run-laden career in Dandenong’s lower grades and should have few troubles scoring big runs for the Tigers this summer.

SNAPSHOT: They ran it thin but the Tigers bucked the trend of Turf 2 premiers falling straight back down in their first season in the competition’s top flight. They should have no issues staying in Turf 1 this season with a much-improved list.

Andrey Fernando batting for Dandenong last summer. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Michael Wallace is Berwick’s boom recruit. Picture: Andy Brownbill

BERWICK

COACH: Brad James

IN: Michael Wallace (Casey South Melbourne), James Trodd (Hampshire, UK), Luke Clarke (Narre Warren)

OUT: nil.

KEY PLAYER: Michael Wallace’s summer will likely determine how high Berwick finishes in 2024-25. If the left-hander can produce a 500-run summer, it’s hard to see the Bears missing the four.

SNAPSHOT: The Bears’ recent absence from the last weekend of the Turf 1 season has not been taken lightly. They have a much stronger line-up and expect to be challenging for the premiership this year.

BUCKLEY RIDGES

COACH: Manjula Munasinghe

IN: Dale Tormey (Pakenham), Prav Chahal (Wiltshire, UK)

OUT: nil.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Dynamic all-rounder Dale Tormey has spent nearly a decade out of playing regular turf cricket but has made runs wherever he has played across his successful career.

SNAPSHOT: Buckley Ridges has been a mainstay in grand finals over the past decade but coach Munasinghe has put an emphasis on recognising the improvement of the entire competition this pre-season. He is taking one step at a time but the Bucks’ XI is too good to not reach at the very least a preliminary final.

Buckley Ridges batter Josh Holden. Picture: Valeriu Campan

DANDENONG WEST

COACH: Anthony Brannan

IN: Don Pulukkuttiarachchi (Brighton Union), Amrith Sri Mahan (Chelsea), Brad Sheean (returning)

OUT: nil.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Nuwan Kulasekara will be required to emulate his Turf 2 and Turf 3 form into the top comp if Dandenong West is to contend. The Bulls should have more depth with the bat but the bowling group, led by Kulasekara, remains their biggest weapon.

SNAPSHOT: The Bulls are coming off back-to-back premierships, rising from Turf 3 to Turf 1 in the space of two summers. They’ll start the season aiming for the top four but with recent Turf 2 premiers struggling to bridge the gap in Turf 1, avoiding relegation would be a mighty first step.

HALLAM KALORA PARK

COACH: Matt Cox

IN: Damith Perera (Greenvale Kangaroos), Austin Fardell (Fitzroy Doncaster), Ryan Hillard (returning)

OUT: Matt Cox (retired), Charith Keerthisinghe (North Dandenong)

PLAYER TO WATCH: Hallam Kalora Park has built its side around star left-hander Mahela Udawatte. He had a huge debut season at the Hawks last year, crunching 509 runs at an average over 50.

SNAPSHOT: The Hawks were agonisingly short of playing off in a preliminary final last season. They have a really strong balance on paper and expect to make finals again in 2024-25. Additions Austin Fardell and Damith Perera have put together strong pre-seasons.

NARRE SOUTH

Morteza Ali. Picture: Valeriu Campan

COACH: Jeevan Mendis (new)

IN: Joel Zietsman (returning), Morteza Ali (Cardinia), Zak Wilson (returning from UK), Liam Sheehan (returning), Adam Snelling (Richmond)

OUT: Alex Cruickshank, Callum Nicholls, Harsha De Silva

PLAYER TO WATCH: Adam Snelling has returned from a season at Premier Cricket club Richmond and has been training strongly. He packs a punch with the bat and should be an exciting addition to the Lions this year.

SNAPSHOT: Narre South was in a position to defeat eventual premiers Buckley Ridges during last year’s preliminary final but collapsed poorly. It is looking to improve on its 2023-24 finish under new captain-coach Jeevan Mendis.

NORTH DANDENONG

COACH: Lee Vowles (new)

IN: Ghairat Mangal, Charith Keerthisinghe (Hallam Kalora Park)

OUT: Jawid Khan (Dandenong), Jurgen Andersen, Clayton McCartney

KEY PLAYER: Tahsinulla Sultani was second in his side’s leading run getters last year with 241 but will need to come close to doubling that this season.

SNAPSHOT: North Dandenong lost a lot of talent and experience this off-season but is promoting it as an opportunity for its younger players. After such a heavy reliance on Jawid Khan, the Maroons will need to transform from a top heavy side to an even one if they are to remain in Turf 1.

North Dandenong has lost captain Clayton McCartney. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Nick Boland bowling for Prahran. Picture: Valeriu Campan

SPRINGVALE SOUTH

COACH: Paul Hill

IN: Nick Boland (Prahran)

OUT: Yoshan Kumara (Mordialloc)

PLAYER TO WATCH: Jarryd Straker tied down an end every week last year to finish with a remarkable 39 wickets at average of just 12. He will be just as important to the Bloods in 2024-25 as they look to redeem last year’s grand final defeat.

SNAPSHOT: The Bloods have the best Turf 1 line-up on paper and should be back in the race for another Turf 1 premiership. The addition of Nick Boland as well as Cam Forsyth and Matt Wetering returning full-time will make Springvale South even stronger than it was last season.