MPCA season preview for Provincial and Peninsula

Ahead of the first ball, we analyse each club, name the coaches and captains and detail the key ins and outs and for 2021-21.

Joe Rule has returned to Heatherhill, where he is a premiership player, for season 2021-22. Picture: Mark Dadswell

It’s been a short and sharp pre-season and now it’s time to play.

The Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association has fixtured all one-dayers this season.

The helter-skelter cricket will suit some teams beautifully, others not so much.

In Provincial, one-time MPCA powerhouse Long Island is back in the top flight after claiming the Peninsula flag — and make no mistake the Islanders, with a bunch of impressive signings, mean business.

Some of the notable recruits in Provincial include English County star Ian Cockbain, former New Zealand first-class paceman Te Ahu Davis, Frankston Peninsula batter Chris Dew and former Richmond premiership paceman Matt Shimell.

Here’s a run-down of how the teams in Provincial and Peninsula are shaping up.

PROVINCIAL

BADEN POWELL

Coach: Zacc Klan

Captain: Travis Kellerman

Last season: runner-up

In: Te Ahu Davis (Cardinia), Jobe Gardner (Heatherhill), Liam Jackson (Pines)

Out: Taylor Harrison (Main Ridge), Ryan Harrison (Main Ridge)

Snapshot: The Braves stormed into the grand final from fourth spot last season and they went oh so close to winning the whole thing. Six months on and the BPs are ready for redemption. Former New Zealand first-class paceman Te Ahu Davis is a great inclusion. He may have lost a yard or two in pace but he’ll still have opposition openers ducking and weaving. Promising youngsters Jobe Gardner and Liam Jackson add depth, while leading players Rhys Elmi, Beau Anthony, Zacc Klan and Craig Entwistle are proven performers in one dayers.

Jobe Gardner batting for Heatherhill. He’s joined Baden Powell.

BAXTER

Captain-coach: Sam Mullavey

Last season: fifth

In: James Long (Frankston Peninsula), Matthew Dinnie (Casey South Melbourne)

Out: Chris Brittain, Bobby Parslow, Adeel Hussain, Joe Rule, Justin Bridgeman

Snapshot: Baxter will field a new-look side after a raft of changes. An injection of youth and talent — and the return of a champion — has raised hopes and spirits at Baxter Park. Former Casey South Melbourne players James Long and Matthew Dinnie are important inclusions and will both bat in the top five and provide bowling options, too. Champion Daniel Warwick has recovered from a ruptured Achilles injury and will look to add to his 17 centuries at Baxter. Exciting youngster Will Borthwick is set to take another step forward.

Matt Shimell bowling for Richmond.

LONG ISLAND

Coach: Josh Dowling

Captain: Tom Boxell

Last season: premiers (Peninsula)

In: Josh Dowling, Jurgen Andersen (Eildon Park), Matt Shimell (Elsternwick), Beau Scoble (Pearcedale)

Out: Nil

Snapshot: The Islanders are back in Provincial, ready to make an impact. After winning the Peninsula flag last season they’ve added some quality players, notably Richmond premiership paceman Matt Shimell, who boasts two hat-tricks at Premier Cricket level. Tom Boxell, Nick Jewell and Zac Wilson will ensure some big totals. And the Islanders know how to win.

Ian Cockbain has joined Langwarrin.

LANGWARRIN

Coach: Matt Prosser

Captain: Travis Campbell

Last season: semi-finals

In: Ian Cockbain (Gloucestershire), Chris Brittain (Baxter), Mason Smith (Wantirna South), Dylan Campbell (Mordialloc), Stuart Plunkett (Frankston YCW), Josh Hammill (Ballam Park)

Out: Tom Hussey (Tooradin), Jayde Herrick (Springvale South), Kyle Parrott (Melbourne), Andrew Smith (Seaford), Riley Davie (Somerville), Ben Williams (Frankston YCW)

Snapshot: Plenty of changes at Langy with some fine players departing but some rippers coming on board. The big inclusions are Gloucestershire batter Ian Cockbain and Baxter master bat Chris Brittain. It will be worth watching if those two get going. Langy’s bowling will be led by coach and star leggie Matt Prosser, who took 41 wickets to claim the Wally Wedgwood Medal last season. Former Mordialloc skipper Dylan Campbell is a very handy addition to the bowling.

MT ELIZA

Coach: Trevor Lovitt

Captain: Tom Baron

Last season: sixth

In: Jordan Fuhrmann (returning)

Out: Ben Tracy

Snapshot: The Mounties will have their first-ever non-playing senior coach with the astute Trevor Lovitt taking the reins. Talented batter Jordan Fuhrmann returns to strengthen the batting while former Sri Lankan first-class batter Rashmika Opatha should return from a knee injury around Christmas time. Mt Eliza’s bowling will be strong with the likes of Tom and Nick Baron, Sam Glenn and Shaun Knott - but will the Mounties’ batting score enough runs?

OLD PENINSULA

Coach: John Forrest

Captain: Justin Grant

Last season: semi-finals

In: Tom Shayler (Moorooduc)

Out: Rhys Whitling, Harry Wallace (Frankston Peninsula)

Snapshot: The Pirates, as consistent as a sunrise, have been leading contenders for a decade or more and there’s no reason to suggest the trend won’t continue. Star bat Justin Grant takes on the captaincy and he will be determined to set the standard with the bat after an unusually lean 2020-21 season. Master blaster Dylan O’Malley is ready to launch and classy leftie Wade Pelzer is always a key wicket for rival sides.

Chris Dew batting for Frankston.

RED HILL

Captain-coach: Adam Slack

Last season: seventh

In: Simon Dart (returning), Chris Dew (Frankston Peninsula), Andy Restein

Out: Nil

Snapshot: A B-I-G inclusion for the Hillmen in run machine Simon Dart. Dubbed the “Little Master” and “The GOAT’’, Dart has returned from Japan in what is game-changing news for Red Hill on the eve of the season. All of a sudden Red Hill’s batting looks stronger than ever, with Dart to slot in alongside star recruit Chris Dew, while Luke Robertson, Luke Jackson, Adam Slack, Damien Sullivan and Riley Shaw are also capable of scoring quickly and heavily.

Jedd Falck will be a key for Sorrento.

SORRENTO

Coach: Liam O’Connor

Captain: Bobby Wilson

Last season: premiers

In: Andrew Libby, AJ King

Out: Leigh Poholke

Snapshot: The Sharks are chasing a three-peat after a dominant period - not bad for a club with only three senior teams. Quality English spinner Andrew Libby is an excellent inclusion, adding to a well balanced bowling attack with the likes of paceman Jake Wood, James Rulach and Leigh Janssen. Master batter Bobby Wilson topped the competition runs tally last season, while Jedd Falck and Corey Harris will be relied on to get the scoreboard ticking over.

PENINSULA

FLINDERS

Captain-coach: Blake Hogan-Keogh

Last season: semi-finals

In: Lachie Barton (Balnarring)

Out: Nil

Snapshot: The Sharks will be without champs Dwayne Field and Shane Beggs who are sliding down the grades to play with their sons. But they still have plenty of matches winners in former Queensland paceman and John Hille medallist Matt Gale, Blake Hogan-Keogh and big-hitting Kane Hawkins.

Adeel Hussain will give Heatherhill a boost this season.

HEATHERHILL

Captain-coach: Kristian Miller

Last season: fifth

In: Adeel Hussain (Baxter), Joe Rule (Baxter), Matt Bishop (returning)

Out: Jobe Gardner (Baden Powell), Don Pulukkuttiarachchi (Cranbourne Meadows)

Snapshot: The Hills have added experience as they look to go a step further after narrowly missing finals last season. Skipper Kristian Miller scored 459 runs last season to be one of the leading batters in the comp. Notably, opening bowler Jake Theobald is back fully fit after missing half of last season with a broken finger. He, Hussain, Kieran Linehan, Brett Maxwell and Jack Lavery make up a strong bowling unit.

Justin Parkes has joined the Ducs.

MOOROODUC

Coach: Kenny Cremen

Captain: Ben Williams

Last season: sixth

In: Justin Parkes (POB), Gavin Whyte (Seaford Tigers), Brent DeMamiel (Long Island), Madu Perera (Somerville), Chris Cooper (Edgewater CC - Western Australia), Sumeth Chaminda (Grand United), Rumesh Ranasinghe (Bayside), Milan Hettiarachchi (Rovers United Bruck- Wangaratta)

Out: Pathum DeMel (Huntly North Epsom - Bendigo), Lahiru Anthony (Vermont South), Kasun Perera (Skye), Tom Shayler (POB)

Snapshot: The Ducs loom as the surprise packets after an extensive recruiting campaign. Eight new players will allow the Ducs to play an aggressive brand of cricket, according to senior coach Kenny Cremen.“We’re going to have five or six changes in our ones from last season,” Cremen said. “Our plan is to be unpredictable …and be pretty attacking.”

Moorooduc’s arrivals include Sri Lankan paceman Milan Hettiarachchi, who played a first-class game in 2009, and classy Bayside opening batter Rumesh Ranasinghe.

Anthony Gapes will lead Mornington this season.

MORNINGTON

Coach: Rob Parker

Captain: Anthony Gapes

Last season: relegated from Provincial

In: Nil

Out: Reuben Higgins, Jamie Cox, Darren Berry

Snapshot: Mornington champion Anthony Gapes has taken over as First XI skipper and is all about promoting youth as the Bulldogs prepare for their first look at Peninsula ranks after being relegated from Provincial last season. Talented young batsman Zac Garnet has been named vice-captain and young paceman Cameron Moon and rookie Reagan Turner are ones to watch. Look for the Bulldogs to bounce back strongly.

Billy Humphrey (right) bowling for Pines.

PINES

Coach: Jackson Mockett

Director of coaching: Brett “Bart” Hudgson

Captain: Ricky Ramsdale

Last season: runner-up

In: Matthew Moss (Skye), Darren Ramsdale (returning)

Out: Liam Jackson

Snapshot: The Piners are the side to beat. They’ll be hungry after losing last season’s grand final in a photo finish. In Jackson Mockett, Damien Lawrence, Harley Peace-Stirling, Ricky Ramsdale, Patrick Jackson and Billy Humphrey, Pines are awash with match winners.

ROSEBUD

Coach: Lyle House

Captain: Billy Quigley

Last season: premiers (District)

In: Nil

Out: Patrick Nagel (Frankston Peninsula), Jason Mathers (Mt Martha)

Snapshot: The Sharks step up to Peninsula and they’ll do so without ace paceman Patrick Nagel, who has gone to Frankston Peninsula. Coach Lyle House says batter Kieran Hanley, bowler Ash Nagel and left-arm orthodox spinner Patrick Nickeas are ready to take their games to the next level this season.

Mackenzie Gardner batting for Frankston. Picture: Valeriu Campan

SEAFORD TIGERS

Coach: Jake Harrington

Captain: Dave James

Last season: seventh

In: Mackenzie Gardner (Frankston Peninsula)

Out: Ash Mills (retired)

Snapshot: What a catch for the Seaford Tigers. Mackenzie Gardner, who played every game in Frankston Peninsula’s First XI last season, is back at his junior club, as a playing assistant coach. The Tigers will regain their coach and opening batsman Jake Harrington, who missed the majority of last season with knee injuries.

Leigh Lowry is padding up for Somerville this season.

SOMERVILLE

Coach: Jason “Jugga” Nagel

Captain: Brad McDonald

Last season: semi-finals

In: Leigh Lowry (returning), Riley Davie (Langwarrin), Ryan McNamara

Out: Madu Perera (Moorooduc), Jarryd Parker (Frankston Peninsula)

Snapshot: The Eagles don’t need to improve much to be a genuine premiership contender. Gun bat Leigh Lowry is key addition, as is Langwarrin premiership player Riley Davie. Look for Aaron Kaddatz, Jarryd Lymer and Jack Kennedy to again fire with the ball, and Brad McDonald and Brenton Alp to again have strong seasons with the willow.