Fawad Ahmed has bolstered an already stacked Deer Park line-up for VTCA 2024-25

Can any local cricket club match this side? International spinner Fawad Ahmed’s arrival at Deer Park bolsters an already star-studded XI for the new VTCA season.

Fawad Ahmed celebrates a for Melbourne Renegades.

Will this be the greatest cricket team ever fielded in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association?

Deer Park is taking the term arms-race to the next level, confirming the signature of international spinner Fawad Ahmed for 2024-25.

Ahmed arrives after taking an astonishing 56 wickets for VSDCA club Hoppers Crossing last year, which earnt him Team of the Year honours.

The 42-year-old leggie played three one-day internationals and two T20 internationals for Australia and took 90 wickets in 99 Big Bash League matches.

Already the reigning Senior Division premier, he’ll bolster a team that already features Dean Russ, Daniel Sartori, Allan Wise and added Aaron Ayre and Aaron Shellie in the off-season.

Fawad Ahmed in action for Hoppers Crossing. Picture: Andy Brownbil

Deer Park coach Mick Andriadis said it was a massive coup for the club.

“We’ve secured Fawad, he’d wanted to come to the club previous,” Andriadis said.

“For whatever reason we couldn’t make it happen but we can this year, which is really exciting for the club.

“He’s another professional cricketer who’s fresh out of Big Bash.

“He took 50-odd wickets in the Subbies last year, and he missed a few a games as well, so he’s still bowling as good as ever.

“I remember when he started out in the VTCA at Hoppers Crossing, obviously he’s even better now, and I don’t think there’s a bowler in the competition that can match him.”

Deer Park has lost spinner Fawad Malook and West Indian paceman Keon Harding.

As well as adding Ahmed, Shellie and Ayre, young gun Lachie Fitzgerald is back from a Premier Cricket stint with Melbourne University and quick Roshon Primus is expected to return from the West Indians before Christmas.

Fawad Ahmed in action for the Cricket Australia XI against South Africa.

Primus is a three-pointer having played previously at John McLeod Reserve.

Ahmed will be a five-pointer.

Despite the VTCA dropping the points cap to 20 for this coming season, Andriadis expects to be able to field his strongest XI.

Organising the batting order though could be an issue.

“Last year we had Keon Harding as a professional player, so Fawad will take Keon’s place,” he said.

“Obviously Dean Russ and Daniel Sartori are still high up in points but we have the luxury of having a lot of zero-pointers and blokes that have been at our club for eight, 10 or even 15 years.

“Throw in the Aaron twins (Shellie and Ayre) we’ve got a fantastic side on paper.

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“It will be a nightmare (trying to organise the batting order) but Dean Russ is captain and if anyone can do it, Dean can. Who’s going to argue with him.

“We’ve got our two openers (Angelo Emmanuel and Hashan Wanasekera) that have played seven or eight years at the club and are coming off hundreds in each innings of the grand final, so they get a few brownie points.”

Deer Park enters the season as red-hot premiership favourites but rivals have also been busy over winter.

Grand finalist Sydenham-Hillside have added Tallan Wright, Akon Mawien and Sanka Ramesh, while Yarraville Club has signed Matt Doric, Josh Eaton and Viraj Lakshitha.