Sri Lankan Test players Suraj Randhiv and Nuwan Kulasekara locked in for DDCA season

THE 2018-19 DDCA season starts on Saturday with two Sri Lankan Test players among the recruits to the competition.

LONG-time Dandenong District Cricket Association scribe Cam McDonnell rounds up the ins and outs ahead of Saturday’s opening round.

BERWICK

In: Brendan Rose (Casey South Melbourne), Josh Holden (injured). Out: Jarrod Armitage (Springvale South), James Wilcock (Dandenong).

The skinny: Berwick was the disappointment of last summer. Huge things were expected and the Bears didn’t give a growl, failing to make the top four. Long-term skipper Jarrod Goodes has stood down due to work and family commitments but will remain as a key player. Superstar Matt Chasemore will assume the captaincy in his second year at the club. Will Carr is coach. Brendan Rose is a huge signing from Casey South Melbourne and should be a star with both bat and ball. He will offset the loss of key all-rounder Jarrod Armitage and quickie James Wilcock.

Casey South Melbourne paceman Brendon Rose has joined Berwick.

BUCKLEY RIDGES

In: David White (South Africa), Chanika Silva (Moonee Valley). Out: Nil.

The skinny: The Ridges were all class last year but bombed out in straight-sets in the finals. The Bucks have recruited former South Africa A batsman David White as coach and, with a highest first-class score of 160, he could make some serious runs on the Postage Stamp. The Ridges have lost no one from last season’s side although there is some doubt on Lucas Hoogenboom.

HALLAM KALORA PARK

In: Jamie Brohier (Frankston), Peter Sofra (Casey South Melbourne). Out: Thalaivan Xavier.

The skinny: the Hawks were superb last year making the finals and will be right amongst it again this summer. Xavier returned to India to be a back up player for the IPL at Christmas time last year, so the Hawks have got used to his absence. They have added to the line-up with Jamie Brohier from Premier club Frankston Peninsula. Brohier is an opening batsman who will help form a formidable top-order with Leigh Booth, Jagveer Hayer, Jordie Hammond and Ben and Ryan Hillard. Medium pacer Peter Sofra will add another layer to a strong bowling unit spearheaded by Steve Gilmour.

Former Cranbourne premiership hero Cameron Dinger has crossed to HSD.

HSD:

In: Suraj Randhiv (Sri Lanka), Cameron Dinger (Casey South Melbourne), Justin Davis (Canada). Out: Matthew Cox (Ashburton), Brad Downe (retired).

The skinny: HSD has lost batting stud Matt Cox, who returns to his former club Ashburton, as well as retiring champion Brad Downe. However the Soupmen have the equal-biggest signing of the off-season in Sri Lankan Test offie Suraj Randhiv, who captured 660 first-class wickets. Former Cranbourne grand final hero and leg spinner Cameron Dinger is back in the DDCA after a stint at Premier Cricket. And quickie Justin Davis returns after being in Canada for the past couple of seasons. He is a terrific player with an imposing record. Wookey Medallist Slick Davies will again lead the attack but will be required to help offset the loss of Cox and Downe with runs through the middle-order. That should not be an issue for the crack all-rounder.

MORDIALLOC

In: Nuwan Kulasekara (Sri Lanka). Out: Stuart Squires (retired), Jacob Woinarski (St Kilda), Chathura Athukorala (Tasmania).

The skinny: Top-order batsmen, look out. The Bloodhounds have signed star opening bowler Nuwan Kulasekara, who bends it like Beckham and played 21 Tests and 184 one day internationals for Sri Lanka. As if the reigning back-to-back premiers need assistance. Kulasekara is friends with Ian Daniel and jumped at the opportunity to join the bayside club.

Champion captain and club legend Stuart Squires has retired and he will leave a giant hole. Young star Jacob Woinarski as joined Premier club St Kilda and longtime star Chooka Athukorala will remain in Tasmania full-time. The Bloodhounds have won three of the last four titles and will attempt what no side has done in the history of the top grade in the DDCA and win three on the hop.

Asfan Thajudeen will captain North Dandenong. Picture: Valeriu Campan

NORTH DANDENONG

In: nil. Out: Gayantha Wijethilaka (Buckley Ridges), Naz Malikzada (Springvale), Caleb Millman (Doveton), Clayton McCartney.

The skinny: It took until the final ball of the home-and-away season last summer for the Northeners to punch their ticket into the newly revamped competition. It was a bizarre season for North. They were belted in some games yet recorded strong wins against both St. Marys and HSD. North were close to finalising commitments from a top-order batsmen from India and a young English all-rounder. They will need them to offset the losses. Club legend David Bell and Shane Lamour are co-coaches and will hand over the on-ground stewardship to last season’s boom signing, Asfan Thajudeen. Bell is excited by the new format and believes that North could be more than making up the numbers should it play to its ability.

ST MARY’S

In: Dan Davis (Thornbury UK), Luke Davis (Thornbury UK). Out: Shakeel Ahmed (work), Adam Welcome (moved on).

The skinny: The Saints were the surprise packet of the summer last year on their return to Turf 1 after several years. They were in finals contention to the penultimate round and will again be led by star Kaushalya Gajasinghe as captain-coach and Ruwan Kellapotha as his assistant. Both players lit up Cashman Oval last summer and will be joined by the Davis brothers from Thornbury in the UK. They are both former Saints players back for another stint, this time together for the first time. Dan is an aggressive opening batsmen who bowls medium quick seemers and Luke is a crafty and technical middle-order bat who also sends down some medium pacers.

Jarrod Armitage is back at Springvale South.

SPRINGVALE SOUTH

In: Jarrod Armitage (Berwick), Matt Wetering (Dandenong). Out: Mitch Forsyth (Dandenong).

The skinny: Last year’s runners-up looked to have got stronger. Jarrod Armitage returns to his spiritual home after two years at Berwick and former junior star Matt Wetering has returned from Dandenong after showing great promise in several First XI appearances with the Panthers. The Bloods will be hoping for a bumper summer from five-time Wookey Medallist Steve Spoljaric, with a formidable line-up behind him. The DDCA’s greatest showman Craig Slocombe is hitting his mid-forties and what better way for “the Commissioner’’ to end a superb career than with a sixth premiership medal around his neck.