Cricket Southern Bayside: How Championship Division clubs are shaping up for 2024-25

There’s been some big comings and goings ahead of the Cricket Southern Bayside Championship season. Here’s a club-by-club guide, with all the ins, outs, key players and analysis.

Jarrad Dowling of Bentleigh bats in last season’s semi-final against Bonbeach at Bentleigh Reserve. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

After a delayed start, the Cricket Southern Bayside season hits off on Saturday.

The Championship division looks like being hotly contested, with South Caulfield, Bentleigh, Bonbeach and Beaumaris to be among the contenders.

Mentone has had a late change, with star spinner Akshat Buch, who took 26 wickets last season, moving to Yarraville in Subbies.

The Mordialloc-St Brigid’s St Louis game on Saturday has already been postponed due to Mordi’s ground not being ready.

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

BEAUMARIS

Coach: Steve Mellick

Captain: Adam Bull

In: Noah Kelly (Yorkshire)

Out: Sam Coates (retired), Ian Cockbain (UK)

Key players: Adam Bull, Noah Kelly, Ben Earney, Nick Ritchie, Tom Mellick

Snapshot: Yorkshire’s Noah Kelly is an exciting inclusion; he will take the gloves and make an impact with the bat. He’s coming off a 2000-run season in the UK and made his first-class debut last month. The all-season availability of Adam Bull and Nick Ritchie, who both missed games last season, will also be crucial; like new recruits.

Thomas Mutton batting for Beaumaris. Picture: Valeriu Campan

BENTLEIGH

Coach: Jason Jacoby

Captain: Ben Seabrook

In: Josh Murphy (West Bentleigh), Jacob Apted, Joe Vaughan (Hampshire)

Out: Josh Cantrell (UK), Brendan Drew (retired), Rob Ciccarella (retired), Matt Chasemore, Jake La Brooy

Key players: Ben Seabrook, Jarrad Dowling, Luke Mott, Josh Murphy, Jacob Apted, Joe Vaughan

Snapshot: Last season’s grand finalists will be coached by South Caulfield premiership coach Jason Jacoby — and brilliant batsman Ben Seabrook will take over as captain. He’s coming off a 580-run season. Left-arm paceman Jacob Apted, who played Premier Cricket in Queensland, is an excellent inclusion, as is West Bentleigh bowling all-rounder Josh Murphy. All-rounder Shane Jeffree won’t play the early games but the Demons hope he will play later in the season.

BONBEACH

Coaches: Tom Smith and Gavin Fewkes

Captain: Cal Dodson

In: Cal Dodson (Casey South Melbourne), Ollie Morgan (UK), Jonny Sadler (UK)

Out: George Darwood (UK)

Key players: Tom Smith, Cal Dodson, Ollie Morgan, Jamie Matheson, Robbie Lancaster, Bryce O’Connor

Snapshot: After a four-season stint in Premier Cricket Cal Dodson is tipped to make an impact in CSB. Tom Smith will again be a leading performer with bat and ball. And overseas players Ollie Morgan and Jonny Sadler boost ranks.

Robbie Lancaster of Bonbeach celebrates taking a wicket. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

MENTONE

Coach: Michael Waller

Captain: Dane Heverin

In: Charlie Bourne (UK), Michael Waller (UK)

Out: Akshat Buch (Yarraville)

Key players: Comrey Edgeworth, Dane Heverin, Simon Cormie, Ed McGarry, Charlie Bourne, Michael Waller

Snapshot: The Tigers have added in two Englishmen as their overseas players — Charlie Bourne and Michael Waller — but lost star all-rounder Akshat Buch. Waller has played for Mentone twice before in 2016-17 and 2017-18. He plays for Tunbridge Wells in the Kent Premier League. He’s an all-rounder, a right-arm off spinner and right hand batsman. Bourne is a right-arm seamer who plays for Treeton in the Yorkshire Premiership League. Mentone’s proven performers Comrey Edgeworth, Dane Heverin, Simon Cormie and Ed McGarry will be vital.

MORDIALLOC

Coach: Jack Plom

Captain: Dave Tantsis-Hall

In: Yoshan Kumara, Jack Plom (UK), Harry Birkman (UK)

Out: Insaf Iqbal (Murrumbeena), Hugo Hammond (UK)

Key players: Damith Mapa, Dave Tantsis-Hall, Nick Connellan, Yoshan Kumara, Harry Birkman, Jakob Woinarski

Snapshot: The Bloodhounds’ bowling attack has had a terrific boost, with Springvale South premiership player and VSDCA’s Van Holten Award runner-up Yoshan Kumara joining. The former Sri Lankan first-class player took 9-60 in a grand final a few years ago. Dave Tantsis-Hall has taken on the captaincy and he will look to set the tone at the top of the list. Former England U19 and Essex player Jack Plom is a terrific addition as player-coach, along with Lancashire fast bowler Harry Birkman, 19.

Mordialloc will field a new-look side. Picture: George Sal

MURRUMBEENA

Coach: Dan Parkinson

Captain: Alexander Ross

In: Insaf Iqbal (Mordialloc), Joe Arnold (Worfield, UK)

Key players: Tej Gandhi, Troy Ryan, Will Kelly, Brett Hardham, Xavier Ross

Snapshot: Rising to the top flight after winning the Division 1 premiership, the Beena will field a strong side. Mordialloc bowler Insaf Iqbal has joined the club after taking 101 wickets at 14 in four seasons with the Bloodhounds.

SOUTH CAULFIELD

Coach: Nick Jewell

Captain: Michael De Iacovo

In: Michael De Iacovo (St Kilda), Ben Coddington (UK), Alex Mason

Out: Tom Morris (St Kilda)

Key players: Brad Erasmus, Lewis Mildenhall, Michael De Iacovo, Ben Coddington, Alex Mason, Jak Jowett, Jono Curtis

Snapshot: Former Victorian batsman Nick Jewell has taken over as coach, with ex-St Kilda batsman Michael “Babs’’ De Iacovo joining the club as captain. South has also boosted their ranks by gaining English players Ben Coddington and Alex Mason. They are tipped to make an impact. It should all add up to another successful season for the reigning premiers.

Will Russell bowling for South Caulfield. Picture: Andy Brownbill

ST BRIGID’S ST LOUIS

Captains: Jeremy Heys and Trae Love-Linay

In: Matthew Sonczak (UK), Buzz Kemp (UK)

Out: nil

Key players: Jeremy Heys, Liam Harris, Andrew Loffel, Mark Jamieson, Trae Love-Linay, James Barker

Snapshot: The Saints’ bowling has received a boost, with two English imports coming on board. Matthew Sonczak, 26, played a first-class game for Derbyshire against the West Indies in 2017, dismissing Windies captain Jason Holder. Sonczak captains his side back in the UK and is a hard-hitting batsman and impressive slow left-arm orthodox bowler. And Buzz Kemp from the UK adds firepower with the ball and he bats well, too.