Premier cricket squads announced

Travis Stewart

Photo: New Plymouth Old Boys won last season's one-day title. 

This weekend sees the return of Alpha Sports premier cricket, the squads have been training for a couple of months now and will be eager to get their season off on the front foot.

WOODLEIGH CC

The Woodleigh Premier team are hoping for a bit of a comeback season this year after falling well short of expectations last year. Having lost a few players from last seasons squad, most noticeably Phil Barraclough and Jesse Vertongen, along with Zac Betteridge and Codey Rei. On the flip side Woodleigh welcome some fresh young talent and a couple of familiar faces who are back after a few seasons away. Ken Roycroft, Taylor Williams and Lincoln Reed are all familiar with Premier cricket and will add some much needed experience and composure to the side, Bailee Meadows, Tom Reid Jason McGrath and Harmandeep Sharma are the other signings.

Expectations as the group would be to make the playoffs in all 3 genres of the game.

They are a young squad again and hopefully can use that energy to turn a few heads this season.

Squad: Shaun Sullivan (C), Josh Roguski, Mitchell Proffit, Josh Quinney, Tyler Slingsby, Scott Evans, Jared Phillips, William Langslow, Jakcob Schrader, Matthew Allen, Chad Quinney, Ken Roycroft, Taylor Williams, Bailee Meadows, Tom Reid, Jason McGrath, Lincoln Reed, Harmandeep Sharma.

Last Season: Two Day: 8th, One Day: 5th, T20: Beaten Semi Finalists

NPMU

NPMU field a similar squad to previous years, minus the retirements of Ryan Fleming & Leith Johnston. Daniel Bernet is plying his trade in the UK this summer. New recruits include opening fast bowler Kieran Deegan who played for the NPBHS 1st XI. Jessie Vertongen moves across town from Woodleigh and Shailen Sukdhoe is new to the province and has found a home at NPMU. The prolific run scorer Dean Robinson will open the batting again this season with the hard hitting Jarred Cunningham. Robbie Yule will look to continue his good form from last season with the bat. Spear heading the attack will be Taranaki opening bowlers Ryan Watson & Shay Smith, with Taranaki off-spinner Michael Blanks continuing to weave his magic. Joshua Barrett will again be a danger with the ball just as he was last season, finishing 4th highest wicket taker across the competitions.

NPMU Squad: Kurt Leuthart (c), Dean Robinson, Jarred Cunningham, Robbie Yule, Sam Fastier, Ryan Watson, Michael Blanks, Shay Smith, Jacob Richards, Joshua Barrett, Sean Mosquera, Jesse Vertongen, Kieran Deegan, Jack Krutz, Bryce Hannam, Shailen Sukdhoe.

Last Season: Two Day: Won, One Day: Beaten Finalists, T20: Won

NPOB

New Plymouth Old Boys side has a familiar look to it with a couple of key signings from New Plymouth Boys High School, they welcome Taranaki opener Sebastian Lauderdale-Smith and Jack Parker to the side. Veteran Matt Shaw has hung up the boots with Quinn Mills potentially moving away for work. Anything short of making semi finals in all 3 formats will be seen as a bad season.

Squad: Mattie Thomas, Kyle Pillay, Sean White, Josh Borrell, Viranchi Upadhyay, Ben Mitchell, Davis Mills, Jordi Fettis, Myles Simkin, Jack Parker, Oli Burbidge, Sebastian Lauderdale-Smith, Jarrod Ritson, Jordan Gard, Ryan Gilmour, Hayden Downes, Ben Frewin, William Young

Last season: Two Day: Beaten Semi Finalists, One Day: Won, T20: 4th in pool play

STRATFORD

Stratford could be the surprise package this season. The youthful side has been gaining experience of the last couple of years and add in the new signings of Phil Barraclough from Woodleigh and Terry Norgate from FDMC the squad looks to have some good depth to it. Leith Cowie is the other new comer albeit a seasoned player who has returned from the UK. Senior players, Paul Lightoller, Denis Mihalijevich and Kayne Dunlop will be available when required as will CD Stags player Tom Bruce. Beaten finalists in the T20 format last season they will be looking to put a piece of silverware in the cabinet by season end.

Squad: Liam Muggeridge, Christopher Coombe, Paul Lightoller, Grant Commerford, Terry Norgate, Phillip Barraclough, Denis Mihalijevich, Finbar Moriarty, Neil Harper, Caleb Jackson, Kale Jordan, Corey Bailey, Kayne Dunlop, Nic Merson, Lachlan Drummond, Leith Cowie, Oli Hall, Tom Bruce

Last Season: Two Day: 5th, One Day: 6th, T20: Beaten Finalists

FDMC

FDMC will look to build on some momentum they gained at the end of last season, a young looking side they have retained the services of former pupil Robson Chapman as the player coach who will look to guide the team through the season. There is some talented cricketers in the squad and they will look to gain some experience at Premier level before stamping their mark in seasons to come.

Squad: Aaron Manning-Fleming, Connor McLean (wk), Jack Southern, Joshua Elder (c), Keegan Boon, George Boon, Max Dowd, Lenny Chapman, Samuel Taylor, Kalviru Medagedara, Thomas Watson, Indusara Medagedara, Thomas Larkin, Nathan Robertson,

Player Coach: Robson Chapman

Last Season: Two Day: 6th, One Day: 8th, T20: 4th in pool play

HAWERA

Having lost both of last season’s openers, Chris Stephens & Keith Muller (sabbatical) along with all-rounders Adam Keene & Jack Fowler (left town), the Metcalfe Real Estate Hawera United side has named an extended squad as they enter a rebuilding phase to start the season.

That said the core of the squad remains stable and the club welcomes back Nick Walker to bolster the top order. The bowling attack has plenty of options with Ethan Keller and Liam Heibner likely to share the new ball. Taranaki’s youngest veteran Robert Northcott (who will bring up 200 premier games to start the season) will captain the side for the one-day competition. With a youthful look the side will seek success through focusing on enjoying the game as they look to develop and build towards a positive future.

Robert Northcott, Ethan Keller, Liam Fowler, Liam Heibner, Liam Nelley, Shaun Fowler, Nick Walker, Ngoni Mupamba, Sam Conway, Sam Laing, Luke Kerehoma, Tyran Wallace, Charith Gajanayaka, Cody McGrath, Corbin Nelley, Mason Fleming, Jared McLeod. Manager- Kerry Fowler

Last Season: Two Day: 7th, One Day: 7th, T20: 3rd in pool play

INGLEWOOD

The Badgers as they are commonly known will have a new look to their squad with no less then 6 experienced players departing, Aaron Zame, Cam Black, Cody Chilcott, George Redpath, Hayden McIntyre and Sam Broadmore are all missing from last seasons team. However they do welcome back some talented players including top order bat Bailey Wisnewski, up and coming young speedster Chris Logan, Robert McLeod and Sam Darth.

Squad: Aaron Taylor, Bailey Wisnewski, Brent Stevens, Chris Logan, Clint Frost, Jason Dombroski, Luke Dravitzki, Martin Keegan, Matt Simpson, Richard Clough, Rob McLeod, Sam Darth, Troy Chilcott, Tyla Judson,

Last Season: Two Day; Beaten Finalists, One Day: Beaten Semi Finalists, T20: Beaten Semi Finalists

NPBHS

NPBHS are a youthful side on paper with only one year 13, Captain Liam Carr, a regular in the side. New ball bowling duo Fianlay Barnes and Braydon Baker, and hard hitting middle order batsman Jacob Mitchell, have had a season or more playing Premier cricket and will be looking to step up to aid Captain Carr, who finished 3rd highest wicket taker in last seasons club cricket. Top order batter Chester Oldfield could have plenty of runs in him this season after missing most of last season with a knee injury. Former Namibian International Captain JB Burger will play and coach the side, looking to bring his nous and experience to help the school boys on and off the field.

NPBHS 1st XI Squad: Liam Carr (c) Jacob Mitchell, Braydon Baker, Joshua Gard, Hakeem Faider, Fianlay Barnes, Hrishi Bolar, Hugo Roy, Eli Darth, Chester Oldfield, Reeve Nelley, JB Burger (player/coach).

Last Season: Two Day: Beaten semi-finalists, One Day: Beaten Semi Finalists, T20: 3rd in pool play

Round 1 Draw, all games start at 11am:

NPBHS v Hawera, Webster Field
NPOB v FDMC, Western Park
NPMU v Woodleigh, St Joesphs
Stratford v Inglewood, Stratford HS