Hayden Butterworth and James Seymour highlight the best Premier Cricket red-ball performers

Before red-ball cricket was put on pause, there was a selection of players who fancied the red ball format in Premier Cricket most. Here’s who could make a difference as two-day games return.

Red-ball cricket makes its long-awaited Victorian Premier Cricket return this weekend for the first time in almost three years.

The last time Premier cricketers pulled on the creams was during the 2019-20 finals series which was ultimately cut short after the first week of play.

While the competition has had players come and go since the last time the two-day format was played, there are still some red-ball stars itching to play this weekend.

Based on the statistics drawn from red-ball matches during the three summers prior to Covid, here are the 10 players best suited for the return of 90-over cricket.

Hayden Butterworth (Geelong)

The Cats’ bat has performed brilliantly while seeing off the white ball but was one of the more prolific players in front of the red ball between 2017 and 2020. Not only did he score 896 runs at an average of 37.33 in that time, he also took a 30 handy wickets at 24.50.

Hayden Butterworth puts away a short ball.

Brett Forsyth (Dandenong)

In the three seasons of red-ball cricket before its hiatus, Forsyth accumulated the second-most runs in the format with 1289 at an average of 56.04. The meticulous opening bat piled on five centuries and four fifties in this stretch. This run of form includes his Ryder Medal winning 2018-19 season.

Brett Forsyth shows off the Ryder Medal

Matthew Fotia (Ringwood)

The Ringwood speedster currently leads the competition with 25 wickets at an average of 12.36 in 2022-23, but his previous red-ball form suggests that number could rise exponentially before seasons end. Of current players in the competition, Fotia is second for the most red-ball scalps throughout this period.

Matthew Fotia.

 Evan Gulbis (Carlton)

Hidden behind Gulbis’ destructive white-ball form is an extraordinary level of consistency in the longer format. He scored 802 runs at an average of 57.29 with the bat and complimented that record with 34 wickets at 22.06 with the ball. This stretch was highlighted by his glorious innings of 148 not out in the last red-ball Premier Cricket grand final.

Evan Gulbis appeals for an lbw during the Premier Cricket quarter final between Carlton and Dandenong in March, 2019.

David King (Ringwood)

With 885 runs at an average of 49 with the bat and 24 wickets at 21.25 in his last three seasons of red ball, it’s no surprise David King makes this list. Alongside James Seymour, the champion all-rounder was the last player to take out the Ryder Medal in a Premier Cricket season that included the longer format.

David King batting for Ringwood. Picture: Stephen Harman

Dominic Matarazzo (Richmond)

The Richmond seamer has kept batters honest in the shorter format but really begins to petrify opposition players when he can settle in at one end for long periods of time. His numbers in this period read: 39 wickets at an average of 15.54. The seamer is one of just three players in this time to take 30 or more wickets at an average of less than 16.

Dominic Matarazzo bowls for Richmond. Picture: Valeriu Campan

James Nanopoulos (Frankston Peninsula)

The Heat skipper’s recent red-ball form comes from three of his final four years at Dandenong where he claimed 71 wickets at just 15.14. Nanopoulos leads this record for current players but is second overall. The record-breaking all-rounder also made handy runs with the bat averaging 16.93. His workload for the Heat will likely triple when he gets the red Kookaburra in hand.

James Nanopoulos. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Daniel Sartori (Footscray)

Footscray’s opening bat enjoyed his time at the crease against the red ball, accumulating 910 runs with an average of 37.92. Sartori converted in two of the five times he passed 50 for a high score of 124.

A fair chunk of Daniel Sartori’s red-ball runs came while batting for former club Monash I. Picture: Valeriu Campan

James Seymour (Essendon)

During this period, the Bombers skipper made 1436 runs – the most of any player – at an average of 55.23, with three hundreds and eight fifties. He also claimed 28 wickets at 21.75 to perform as a complete all-rounder.

James Seymour. (Photo/Julian Smith)

Blake Thomson (Melbourne)

Melbourne’s captain made 90 not out in the last two-day match and it’s included in his sizzling run of form prior. Thomson made 1074 runs at an average of 63.18 with three centuries and four half centuries.

Other notable performers

Matthew Doric (Essendon): Doric led the competition for wickets with 78 in this stretch before retiring from Victorian Premier Cricket at the end of 2019-20.

Trent Lawford (Fitzroy Doncaster): The prolific all-rounder claimed 71 wickets at an average of just 13.62 to go with his 605 runs at 31.84 with the bat. His remarkable numbers are even more exquisite once remembering he didn’t play the entirety of season 2019-20.

Luke Wells (Casey-South Melbourne): The Englishmen pieced together a splendid run of form before Covid, blasting four red-ball centuries including a score of 290 against Greenvale.