Victorian Premier Cricket season 2022-23 preview: All the ins and outs
The Victorian Premier Cricket season is just days away. Here’s all the ins and outs of every club plus the Leader Local Cricket team predict how it will play out.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport . Followed categories will be added to My News.
The start of another Victorian Premier Cricket is season is finally here — albeit with a slight delay.
After the opening round was shifted due to poor weather, play is finally expected to get underway in the men’s competition this weekend.
Can anyone stop Carlton from achieving back-to-back premierships or will a bolter emerge from the pack?
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the new season.
CARLTON
Captain-coach: Evan Gulbis
Last season: Premiers (14-2-3)
In: Jarvis Harvey (Dandenong)
Out: Brayden Stepien (White Hills), Nathan Patrick (Altona North)
Prediction: Their arms are probably sore from lifting all these trophies but the Blues — winner of two of the past four premierships — are raring to defend their crown. And it will be a Carlton side with a twist in ’22-23, with captain-coach Evan Gulbis hinting at a “new-look’’ batting line-up, with Xavier Crone and Jai Lemire set to bat higher, “so they can push their case’’ for higher honours. “You’ll see throughout the year the more stalwart players taking a back seat this season,’’ Gulbis said. Carlton’s batting depth is the envy of the every club in the competition. Harrison Smyth, who racked up 684 runs last season, at 62.18, is at the peak of his powers, while Gulbis, Tom Smyth, Mackenzie Harvey, Nick Ross and Connor Rutland form a potent line-up. Bowling-wise, the Blues are also stacked with ability, led by Gulbis, spinner Eddy O’Sullivan, Crone and Cameron Stevenson. 16-year-old quickie Jarvis Harvey, a cousin of Mackenzie Harvey, has joined the Blues from Dandenong where he played First XI last season. When it’s all said and done, Carlton is the team to beat again.
Finish: 1st-4th
CAMBERWELL MAGPIES
Captain: Ben Rowles
Coach: David Alleyne
Last season: 17th (3-12-1)
In: Nathan Shoesmith (Essendon)
Out: Rishab Guddadmane (Fitzroy Doncaster)
Prediction: It’s a new era at the Magpies with incoming coach David Alleyne replacing Ben Ryan. Former first-class cricketer Alleyne is no stranger to the Premier scene, having played at Dandenong, Richmond and Hawthorn Monash University. It’s been a quiet off-season of recruiting but they have added wicketkeeper-batsman Nathan Shoesmith who should bring about depth and competition in the role, as he hunts more First XI opportunities. Batsman Rishab Guddadmane has left for rival Fitzroy Doncaster, but the Maggies are stacked with promising youth. Oliver Jenkins, Tom Nelson, Dhruv Redhu, Will Townsend and Spencer Wood all made the Victorian metro under-19 squad this year, and the ‘Pies have retained most of their list. Liam Fitzpatrick (401 runs), Ben Rowles (341) and Ben Shields (241) led the way at the crease last season while seamer Chris Bridle (23 wickets at 24.78) finished well ahead in the wicket count.
The new coach believes the return of two-day cricket will help fast-track the development of his side: “I think that’s where a lot of your greater learnings are achieved. White ball cricket gives you the luxury of playing with more freedom … but once you have a good understanding (of two-day cricket), white-ball cricket becomes as comfortable as it can be,” he said. They’re coming from a way back but it’s a “clean slate”, Alleyne says.
Finish: 12th-18th
CASEY SOUTH MELBOURNE
Coach: Will Carr
Captain: Michael Wallace
Last season: Grand final
In: Michael De Iacovo (St Kilda), Syed Aziz (Malaysia), Virandeep Singh (Malaysia)
Out: Dhanusha Gamage (Dandenong)
Prediction: On the back of a nine-match winning streak, the Swans surged into last season’s grand final only to fall short of their first flag since 1968. Six months on and they are re-energised, hungry and ready to build on last season. The buzz word at the Swans is stability. All key players have stayed, with run machine Ashley Chandrasinghe and leg-spinner Ruwantha Kellapotha set to star again as they pursue exciting opportunities at a higher level this season. Michael Wallace will again lead a well-balanced side packed with talent, with Nathan Lambden and Jackson Fry to provide the firepower with the ball. St Kilda recruit Michael De Iacovo adds a new dimension to the batting. He’s explosive and damaging and could set the Swans alight at different times. The late addition of Malaysian international players Syed Aziz and Virandeep Singh adds even more depth. Both are fine players. Expect Casey South Melbourne to consolidate its standing as a competition heavyweight.
Finish: 1st-4th
DANDENONG
Captain: James Pattinson
Coach: Warren Ayres
Last season: 14th (5-10-1)
In: Akshat Buch (Springvale), Jade Christensen (Kingston Hawthorn), Ben Allison (Essex), Shihan Perera.
Out: Jarvis Harvey (Carlton)
Prediction: The Panthers look set for an improved season after a few handy pick-ups and the announcement of James Pattinson as captain. Pattinson, 32, mutually terminated his state contract with Victoria ahead of the domestic season, which has given the former Australian fast bowler more availability for the Panthers. Pattinson is set to play a vital role as a batting all-rounder who will manage his bowling loads throughout the season. The club have also stocked its line-up with the return of talented left-arm orthodox spinner Akchat Buch who will be the vice-captain. Opening fast bowler Jade Christensen will also join the Panthers from Kingston Hawthorn where he was the leading wicket taker last season with 24 wickets from 14 games. Essex county all-rounder Ben Allison is set to be a promising addition to the club when he joins them a few weeks into the season. The 22-year-old Essex cricketer took 5-32 and made an unbeaten 72 against Kent in a game this year. Left hand batter Shihan Perera will also be a handy inclusion for the Panthers batting line-up.
Finish: 5th-8th
ESSENDON
Captain: James Seymour
Coach: Asanka Gurusinha
Last season: Eighth (8-7-1)
In: –
Out: Ryan Stingel (Footscray)
Prediction: The Bombers season could depend on availability to star duo James Seymour and Cam McClure. While Seymour is no longer state contracted, he could still be included in Victorian squads given his talent, while McClure continues his rise through the ranks. Essendon remains well stocked in the bowling ranks, led by last season‘s joint leading wicket-taker Liam Bowe, Tom and James O’Donnell, Musa Hussain and, of course, McClure and Seymour. It is the batting that will likely decide whether the club returns to finals. With Seymour limited to 10 games with state duties, Isaac Willett stepped up as the leading run-scorer, knocking in 442 runs at 29.47 in the home-and-away season. Michael Hill is a reliable veteran presence at Windy Hill but the likes of Farzan Chowna, Liam Molloy and keeper Connor Poulton will have to significantly up their game. After making finals last season, the Bombers will be under new coach, ICC World Cup winner, Asanka Gurusinha this season. The Sri Lankan great believes his team has the talent to go further than the elimination final in 2021-22 but making the top-eight will be the first goal. Gurusinha forecast a required change of mindset with the reintroduction of two-day cricket this season after two seasons of one-dayers.
Finish: 6th-10th
FITZROY DONCASTER
Captain: Ejaaz Alavi
Coach: Michael O’Sullivan
Last season: 13th (6-9-1)
In: Rishab Guddadmane (Camberwell Magpies), Aryan Sharma (Plenty Valley, VSDCA), Tom Kellar (ACT Premier Cricket)
Out: Lakshma Shivakumar (relocated interstate), Harrison Goad (Balwyn)
Prediction: There’s set to be stiff competition for a spot in the Lions’ top-order this season. Fresh off winning the VSDCA’s best young player, opening bat Aryan Sharma’s addition to the First XI is a big lift. Sharma plundered 522 runs for Plenty Valley’s firsts last season (second overall) in the Subbies’ North-East group at an average of 43.5, highlighted by a century knock against Ivanhoe. He cracked the half-century on four additional occasions and joins a Lions top-order featuring Jack Rudd (424 runs last season), Noah Korkolis (411) and Liam Banthorpe (369). Then there’s batsman Rishab Guddadmane, who’s proven more than capable at the level. Limited to just four appearances for the Magpies last year, his campaign was highlighted by a knock of 76 late in the piece. Emerging batsman Tom Kellar has also crossed from the ACT top-flight comp, where he made 406 runs last season. Despite the loss of paceman Harrison Goad and batsman Lakshma Shivakumar, there’s more than enough quality left to suggest the Lions can rebound and play finals this season. The bowling attack was led by skipper Ejaaz Alavi (21 wickets at 24.10), Zac Parr (19 at 19.74), Kobe Smith and Ikroop Dhanoa (14 apiece) who’ve all been retained. Finals are on the agenda at Schramms Reserve, and why wouldn’t they be?
Finish: 6th-8th
FRANKSTON PENINSULA
Coach: Paul Boraston
Captain: James Nanopoulos
Last season: 15th (5-10-1)
In: Jack Fowler (Dromana), Nilochana Perera (Deer Park), Rowan Shelton (Sandy Bay)
Out: Saumil Patel (Carnegie), Akshay Kodoth (Camberwell Magpies), Anurag Singh Dhaliwal (Kingston Hawthorn), Patrick Nagel (Rosebud), Luke Gandy (St Kilda)
Prediction: The Heat improved slightly last season and will be out to continue their climb up the ladder in ’22-23. The experienced James Nanopoulos will lead a well-balanced side, featuring dashing opening batter Vish Bansal, who made headlines last season with a blazing 137 against Fitzroy Doncaster. Look for Nick Taranto to provide a steadying influence at the top of the list. The multi-talented Brodie Symons will again be Frankston’s key man; he’s been in superb form with the ball in Darwin cricket over winter and he’ll bat in the top five. Talented batter Ryan Hammel will again be relied on to churn out the runs, while the experienced Matt Gapes could return to the ones after an impressive pre-season. The Heat’s two young spinners are rippers; Jack Conroy and Bailen Clarke, one a right arm orthodox and the other a left arm orthodox. Dromana recruit Jack Fowler returns to Premier Cricket and will add pace and batting depth, as well as a fierce competitive attitude. Players like Jai Elcock, Lucas McConnell and Nick Mann are capable of making an impact, too.
Finish: 10th-14th
FOOTSCRAY
Captain: Travis Dean
Coach: Dale McDonald
Last season: 5th (9-4-3)
In: Umair Butt (South Hobart Sandy Bay), Aaron Harding (Numurkah), Ryan Stingel (Essendon), Josh Pace (Keilor)
Out: Sid Dixit (New Zealand), Matt Underwood (time off), Steve Mihelakos-James (Coburg)
Prediction: Footscray possess one of the most experienced line-ups in Premier Cricket, headlined by reigning Ryder Medallist Dean Russ, skipper Travis Dean, Daniel Sartori, Dylan Kight and Jake Reed. However, the Bulldogs also have some of the most exciting young talent in Victoria with Dylan Brasher coming off a Ralph Wiese Medal-winning season in the Northern Territory where he amassed 783 runs and taking 12 wickets. Paceman Max Birthisel took seven wickets in four games for Vic Metro at the Under-19 National Championships and Mitch Jamieson is one of the hottest batting prospects in the state. Add in recruits Umair Butt, who was the equal sixth leading wicket-taker in Tasmania's Premier Cricket competition last season, NSW Country under-19 representative Aaron Harding and young bat Ryan Stingel from rival Essendon and there’s enviable depth at Merv Hughes Oval. New coach Dale McDonald said his group had galvanised well over the pre-season with several trips away and was in good shape to improve on last season’s fifth place and semi-final appearance.
Finish: 3rd-6th
GEELONG
Captain: Josh McDonald
Coach: Nick Speak
Last season: 7th (9-6-1)
In: Meyrick Buchanan
Out: Gus Boyd
Prediction: Geelong will receive a boost with Meyrick Buchanan coming on board after taking a season off. Buchanan, a former state cricketer, last played for Melbourne in 2020-21 where he scored two half centuries. Geelong will also benefit from Tom Jackson returning to the club full-time after being contracted with Victoria. They will be uncertain of Brody Couch’s availability as the Victorian rookie-contracted fast bowler may be required for state duties including the Big Bash. Fast bowler Dom McGlinchey will be a key player for Geelong again this campaign after taking 29 wickets last season. The club is also excited about some of its youngsters including Oliver Peake, son of ex-state cricketer Clinton Peake and Henry Melville who could get a surprise look in at some stage. Geelong will miss Gus Boyd this season who has moved to New South Wales for work reasons.
Finish: 3rd-6th
GREENVALE KANGAROOS
Captain: Matthew Harrison
Coach: Damian Shanahan
Last season: 16th (3-11-2)
In: William Dundon (returning), Nick McGuane (Geelong)
Out: Harry Singh (Point Cook).
Prediction: Not too much has changed at the Kangaroos in the off-season but they’re excited about the potential of their young players. Coach Damian Shanahan said his side has enjoyed “fantastic momentum in pre-season” despite the challenge of the last month. “We’re going to look to be competitive again while giving opportunities to our younger guys,” he said. Josh Trembearth and Tom Cullen will shoulder a large responsibility of the batting load while Sean McNicholl will lead the bowling group. Nick McGuane spent a lot of last season playing in Geelong’s Second XI but the club are excited about his addition into the bowling group. The loss of Harry Singh is a big blow while vice-captain Scott Dixon is expected to be unavailable until at least December.
Finish: 14th-18th
KINGSTON HAWTHORN
Coach: Peter Marshall
Captain: Shorye Chopra
Last season: 18th (2-12-2)
In: Sam Evans (Leicestershire), Jordan Bulpitt (Warwickshire), Visura Fernando (Dandenong), Anurag Singh Dhaliwal (Frankston Peninsula), Shan Bhaiya (Albury)
Out: Jade Christensen (Dandenong), Prateek Patil (Ringwood).
Prediction: There’s a buzz of excitement at the Hawks, who have been boosted by key recruits. Leicestershire opening bat Sam Evans is a big addition; he’s played 26 County games and scored four first-class centuries. Warwickshire left-arm seamer Jordan Bulpitt adds pace and experience to the bowling attack. The Hawks finished on the bottom of the ladder last season but they were better than that, pushing several of the top teams. Shorye Chopra will again skipper the Hawks and he’s a fine player, scoring two centuries last season as well as being arguably the best cover fieldsman in the competition. Talented wicketkeeper batter Joel Lewis will be vice-captain. The Hawks are hoping Zack Richardson can back up his breakout 2021-22 season when he took 20 wickets in seven games and Thaveesh Attanayake, who made 85 in the last game last season, will continue his development. Visura Fernando is back from Dandenong and another excellent pick up is all-rounder Anurag Singh Dhaliwal, from Frankston Peninsula. He’s has played a fair bit of Premier firsts. Coach Peter Marshall is bullish, declaring, “we’re in the competition to win games”. The Hawks have the talent to climb the ladder and have put an emphasis on winning games on their home ground at Walter Galt.
Finish: 11th-15th
MELBOURNE
Coach: Ben Vague
Captain: Blake Thomson
Last season: 3rd (11-3-2)
In: Zane Keighran (Bendigo United)
Out: Jackson Koop (overseas)
Prediction: Melbourne are set for another strong season with good top end talent alongside some promising youngsters. They may have less of Will Pucovski, Sam Harper and Fergus O’Neill as they may be required at higher levels but they should be up there again this season. Campbell Kellaway is an exciting prospect for Melbourne who was rewarded with a state rookie contract after scoring two hundreds and averaging nearly 50 last season. Kellaway is set to be a vital player for Melbourne alongside Jack Harper who led the aggregate runs for his side last season with 670 runs. Skipper Blake Thomson will also be important after notching more than 500 runs last season while Kyle Williamson will be crucial with the ball having taken 29 wickets from 16 appearances in the same season. Onlookers can expect to see more of youngster Darcy Munro this season who was injured for a large part of last year, playing just six games in the firsts. The Australian under-19 took five-fa on debut last season and is set for an exciting season. Harkirat Bajwa and Alexander Buxton are also set to play a role while Harry Demattia will be one to watch having returned from an Australian under-19 camp in Brisbane. Coach Vague said “our depth has definitely improved because these younger kids have developed and taken the extra step which is exciting for us.”
Finish: 3rd-6th
MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY
Coach: Dan Hutton
Captain: Fergus McKenna
Last season: 11th (6-8-2)
In: Blake Reed (Western Australia), Jack Nightingale (UK), Max Hatzoglou (South Australia)
Out: Nil.
Prediction: With the young core a season older, Melbourne Uni are poised for a push towards finals action later in the season. In a huge boost for the club, Fawad Ahmed is expected to be regularly available after playing just three games last season while Peter Hatzoglou will play all games except those outside of his Big Bash League commitments. Blake Reed’s inclusion will provide the club with a strong all-rounder after a successful career in WA. Andrej Yaksender looms as a key figure with the after scoring 432 runs at an average of 39.27 last season. Skipper Fergus McKenna was just as effective with 421 runs at 32.38. Three players combined to take 17 wickets last season. Coach Dan Dutton believes everything is “going along nicely” with his side “aiming to finish as high as possible with another season of experience under our belts”. If they do play finish, it will come after finishing in the bottom half of the top eight.
Finish: 7th-11th
NORTHCOTE
Captain: Blayde Baker
Coach: Warren Pereara
Last season: Ninth (7-8-1)
In: Joe Medew-Ewen (South Australia), Corey Perrett (New Zealand), Will Lalor (Brunswick)
Out: Nil.
Prediction: It's been heartbreak for the past two seasons for Northcote. The Dragons have seemingly been in the top eight for much of the season before missing out at the death, much like Carlton in the AFL. The club will look to turn it around in 2022-23 with the return of star spinner Joe Medew-Ewen after two seasons in South Australia, where he won a Sheffield Shield cap. Northcote has also locked in New Zealand indoor cricket international Corey Perrett for the new season, further bolstering their bowling stocks. The talent is certainly there, like the Blues had the Brownlow Medallist and Coleman Medallist, Northcote had two top-10 run-scorers in Mark Phelan and Jack Lalor and a top-five wicket-taker in Michael Topp. Young bat Jaga Koduru is coming off a highly impressive Northern Territory season, where he scored 609 runs at an average of 67.67 for Waratah, while Jonty Rushton, Josh Sundberg and Max O’Sullivan remain reliable scorers. Spinner Roby Lane also impressed with 19 wickets. Coach Warren Pereara said the club had learnt plenty from the past two seasons and he was remaining glass half full as he club won “60 to 70 per cent of matches but not the critical moment when the game was on the line”. Northcote is “chomping at the bit” for two-day cricket and should be better suited to the longer format.
Finish: 4th-8th
PRAHRAN
Coach: Justin Graham
Captain: Will Sutherland
Last season: 10th (7-8-1)
In: Shubham Bhargave (Camberwell), Kobe Herft (Melbourne), Ethan Brookes (UK)
Out: Jake Hancock (Berwick)
Prediction: There’s a sense of change at Prahran this season with a new captain and coach set to lead the way. The loss of former captain Jake Hancock to Berwick in the Dandenong District Cricket Association was a major blow given he was last season’s top scorer. That means there will be more pressure on the likes of Damon Egan, Lachlan Bangs and new skipper Will Sutherland to score more freely. Bhargave and Herft added some vital experience. Coach Justin Graham said UK import Ethan Brookes would arrive after two but the club “would give him time to settle in Melbourne”. If the club can find the runs with Hancock’s departure they could easily push for finals cricket.
Finish: 8th-12th
RICHMOND
Captain: Dom Matarazzo
Coach: Shannon Young
Last season: Sixth (9-6-1)
In: –
Out: Kyle Viccars
Prediction: Boasting one of the competition’s most exciting young lists, the Tigers are hungry again to give the business end of the season a shake following a preliminary final berth, according to captain Dom Matarazzo. They’ve retained the core group which took the club to the penultimate match, backing in their existing talent with a quiet off-season in recruiting. A sense of achievement coupled with disappointment has driven the players this off-season according to the skipper after the prelim final loss: “It’s a little bit of both, because we got so close to getting into that grand final. It showed how far we’ve come but how far we’ve still got to go and how experience wins you games of cricket.” Matarazzo led the way with the ball, taking 32 wickets at 11.41, while Shobit Singh (511 runs at 30.06) and Andrew Humphries (505 at 50.50) were more than a handful at the crease. Humphries also took nine wickets at an average of 30.78. All-rounders Jake Fraser-McGurk (346 runs at 28.83), Wil Parker (265 runs at 26.50 and nine wickets at 38.78) and quick Mitch Perry (18 wickets at 10.28) are all Victorian-listed and enjoyed strong campaigns last time around – and they’re all under 23 years of age. Meanwhile, Yash Pednekar has proven his worth at the level having made an impression in the firsts with 444 runs at 27.75 – ranked third in the First XI. Young gun Reiley Mark featured heavily with the ball, snaring 16 wickets at 39.94. The notable omission is Kyle Viccars who has stepped away after topping the Second XI batting with 512 runs at an average of 36.57, to go with four matches in the firsts. But with the young list intact and finals experience under the belt, there shouldn’t be a ceiling on what it can achieve this season according to Matarazzo. He’s bullish his charges can contest a spot in the four, but wary all the same about the great unknown the season poses with the return of two-day cricket – “You’d like to think guys can build on what they were able to do last year … we’re a year older, a year wiser and we know what we have to do to be successful.”
Prediction: 4th-6th
RINGWOOD
Captain: David King
Coach: Sean Flynn
Last season: 12th (6-9-1)
In: Darius D’Silva (Western Australia), David Delany (Ireland), Prateek Patil (Kingston Hawthorn),
Out: Zak Evans (St Kilda), Josh Hartill (Glenorchy, Tasmania), Joe Loorham (retired), Brendan Walsh (retired)
Prediction: It’s been a productive off-season for the Rams featuring some nice additions, with the list looking in a sound position despite some key departures. Batting all-rounder Darius D’Silva promises plenty after three selections in WACA Premier Team of the Year, while excitement surrounds bowling all-rounder David Delany, who’ll try his hand at cricket in Australia this season after previously playing international cricket for Ireland. The major omission is Victorian and Melbourne Renegades-listed quick Zak Evans, who has crossed to rival St Kilda, while keeper Josh Hartill has departed for Tasmania. Star all-rounder Ian Holland’s availability will be limited due to overseas commitments according to coach Sean Flynn, and should be especially missed in the bowling attack. The return of paceman Matt Fotia should help offset those losses, who the coach believes is past a bicep injury which curtailed his campaign last year, while spinner Prateek Patil is a handy inclusion. Emerging leg-spinners Vishwa Ramkumar and Gabe Lawson have also been earmarked as ones to watch, having featured in the club’s Dowling Shield-winning team earlier this year. Let’s not forget opening-batsman Tom Rogers, whose sizzling season brought 898 runs at an average of 89, including four centuries. Adam Amin (478 at 34) and Arjun Dhull (382 at 29) rounded out the top-three run-scorers. There’s enough talent to suggest the Rams can rebound from a six-win season this year, but consistency remains the key.
Prediction: 6th-10th
ST KILDA
Captain: Adam Crosthwaite
Coach: Glenn Lalor
Last season: 1st (14-1-1)
In: Luke Gandy (Frankston Peninsula), Zak Evans (Ringwood), Tim Hail (Gosnells, Perth), Kristian James (Eastern Suburbs) bowling all-rounder.
Out: Henry Thornton (South Australia), Michael De Iacovo (Casey-South Melbourne).
Prediction: A full strength Saints side could almost match a state side when the likes of Marcus Harris, Nic Maddinson, Peter Handscomb, Jono Merlo and Todd Murphy are available. For much of the season however, their state contracted players won’t be available. The club lost Henry Thornton over the off-season to South Australia although they covered for him nicely with the signing of Zak Evans. Unfortunately, Evans is likely to miss the first two months of the season with a pectoral tear and will then potentially play one game before Big Bash duties arrive. The handy addition of Luke Gandy is set to help the Saints bowling stocks. Gandy took 16 wickets from 10 games in the firsts last season for Frankston after beginning the campaign in the twos with seven wickets. Gandy arrives back from a season in Darwin and looks set to go for another summer. Hail also joined the club coming from Gosnells in Perth where he was a handy top order batsmen. Kristian James will add to the depth of the Saints as a bowling all-rounder. The Saints may need to fill a void in their spin department which could appear as Murphy continues his rise in his state career.
Finish: 1st – 4th
UK stint, cricket partner behind Premier Cricket’s next big thing
This emerging talent has come from the clouds with two tons in as many innings to start the season. He reflects on what’s changed and the help from his Premier Cricket partner.
GCA wrap: Club breaks 995-day drought, Warriors win thriller
After 33 games without a win, Marshall Bears have broken their drought in emphatic fashion. Plus, a skipper has led his side to a thrilling win. See how the GCA2, 3 and 4 action unfolded here.