The Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA) ‘A’ grade season starts this Saturday (8/10) with eight teams chasing premiership glory. Lobethal won their first AEHCA ‘A’ grade premiership since coming over from the Torrens Valley Cricket Association after putting together a faultless finals campaign last season. The Tigers defeated Woodside and Langhorne Creek on their way to the decider where they knocked off powerhouse Nairne for the title. Their great season was set up by a powerful bowling lineup including Matt Martin (44 wickets), Mitch Weeks (29), and Dave Huxter (24), who combined for 97 wickets, while Weeks (393 runs) and Ben Matthews (378) are consistent run scorers at the top of the order. Nairne has been the measuring stick over the past couple of decades in the AEHCA with 11 premierships in the past 17 seasons, so it will be no surprise to see them around the mark again this season. Nairne have arguably the best bowling attack in the competition with Mitch Hein, Jarrad Tait, Matt Hein, Brodie Clarke and Chad Harrop combining for a whopping 147 wickets in 2021/22. The Razorbacks batting was inconsistent last season with 2022/23 skipper Robert Crook (421 runs) and Shane Kenney (351) the leading lights. Langhorne Creek are another side that are always around the mark and this season they’ll be led by gun batsman Brodie O’Dea. O’Dea, Daniel Kropp and Ben Warren were among the top-10 batsmen in the competition last season, while Warren, Daniel Cleggett, Troy Blackwell and Darcy Paech will lead the Tigers’ bowling stocks after combining for over 100 wickets last season. Woodside returned to the finals last season after a three-year absence and they’ll be around the mark again this season. The Warriors have plenty of depth but need more support for batsmen Brad Collins and Dave Wescombe who led the way with 419 runs and 384 runs respectively last season. Jeremy Druwitt was the standout bowler last season for the Warriors with 26 wickets and he’ll be looking to Steve Ball, Harrison Reid and Shane Collins for continued support in 2021/22.

Strathalbyn has missed finals action for the past two seasons and will be desperate for a return to the major round and get a chance at that elusive premiership which they last won in 1997/98. The Stallions had the two leading batsmen in the competition last season with Mark Abbott (542 runs) and Matt Harris (460). ‘Strath’ will once again be led by fast bowler Brayden Gaiter, who had an excellent 2021/22 season with 37 wickets. Gaiter will be supported by Ben Cousins, Tim Dellatorre Matt Abbott and Harris in the bowling ranks. Macclesfield made a competitive return to ‘A’ grade ranks, after a 15-year hiatus, to win five games last season. Skipper David Caddle, Kieran O’Connell and all-rounder Lachlan Barrett led the way with the bat for the Redbacks, while with the ball, Connor Moore claimed a team-high 26 wickets. Barrett completed a fine all-round season with 19 wickets to go with his 324 runs. Hahndorf struggled last season with just four wins and will hope for sharp improvement under new skipper Benny Montgomerie. Montgomerie had his best season in ‘A’ grade company with 289 runs and he was well supported by veteran Greg Hassold (330 runs). Ryan Trafford-Walker and new vice-captain Lachlan Huxtable were the chief wicket takers for the Magpies last season but they’ll need more support if their side is to threaten for finals. Bremer/Callington also found the going tough last season with just three wins for the campaign. Shannon Howie is the new captain at the Cobras and he will look to Ajay Pundir and Graydon Brand with the bat and Amit Maina and Nathan Fitzgerald with the ball to push his side up the ladder in 2022/23.

Round 1 (Home teams named first)

Bremer/Callington v Hahndorf

Langhorne Creek v Lobethal

Macclesfield v Strathalbyn

Woodside v Nairne