Fine weather should, at last, herald the start of the Barrier District Cricket League A-Grade season today after two weeks of washed out games.
North take on South at the Alma Oval from 11.30am.
The appointment of Codie Howard signals intent from the North Camp they are serious about getting some sort of redemption for missing the Grand Final last season.
Already boasting two of the best batsmen in town in Tobias Hack and Codie Howard the Bulldogs have been further strengthened this season by the recruitment of Michael Maalste from Central.
Maalste will add fire to the North bowling attack and some solidarity to the middle and lower batting order. Combined with Chase Johnson, Maalste will provide a two pronged pace attack that is certain to provide plenty of fireworks and certain to worry plenty of top order batsmen.
Sheldon Hall showed some nice touch with the bat in Red Cliffs last weekend and if he happens to find greater consistency this season he could prove the difference between making the Grand Final or not for the Bulldogs.
South have had very good numbers on the training track for the start of the season so now it remains to be seen if they have picked up enough good players to enable them to become even more competitive this season and offset the regular loss of five or six players each week to work rosters.
The Roos always play with great spirit, but compiling enough runs on the scoreboard to put opposing sides under pressure has proved to be their nemesis for a number of seasons now. Paul Nicholas and Matt Gray carried the South batting last season and they need greater assistance in the middle order if they are to lift this season.
South’s bowling has been steady for the last few season but on occasions has lacked penetration. May Gray has been their key strike bowler bowling his “offies” and it would be nice if they can find a couple of bowlers to make early inroads into the opposition top order. A full season out of Nick Christos might go a long way to remedying that issue.
South has been hit hard this week due to unavailability of players to work rosters so it may be a slow start to the season for the Roos but they are bound to improve as some of these players return to the side.
The North batting line-up suggests they may hold all the aces in this game and I expect them to open the season on a winning note.
Peter Johnston is the Chairman of the BDCL.
