Premier Cricket set to return

For the first time in its 174-year history, the Melbourne Cricket Club will field a women’s side and face a baptism of fire against Essendon Maribyrnong Park, the defending champions, in the Essteele Premier Firsts.

Not to be outshone, the opening round of the men’s competition is expected to be a momentous occasion for Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers rookie Meyrick Buchanan, who will take the captaincy reins of Geelong in the absence of state teammate Aaron Finch.

Just two weeks after his 19^th birthday, Buchanan is believed to be among the youngest ever captains in the competition’s 106-year history.

”Knowing him really well and knowing what makes him tick, I think it’s a great time for him to step up into the role and get some experience leading the men,” Geelong coach Damian Shanahan said.

”He’s got the full backing of the whole club and his peers and he is a prodigious talent, which we’ll hopefully see with his captaincy skills.

Having ended a 12-year premiership drought, Richmond will commence its own title defence against a rejuvenated Camberwell Magpies line-up that has been bolstered by the acquisition of former Tasmanian quick Brendan Drew.

Drew is one of nine first-class cricketers to have filtered into the Victorian Premier Cricket competition over winter, with Dandenong, last season’s runner-up, securing the services of former Queensland leg-spinner Dan Doran and Nottinghamshire all-rounder Steve Mullaney.

Test quick Darren Pattinson will take over the captaincy of a side that will feature an international bowling attack that includes Peter Siddle and James Pattinson when commitments allow.

Footscray Edgewater has secured the services of classy Western Australian opener Wes Robinson, while former South Australians Tom Moffatt and Tom Stray have joined St Kilda and Ringwood respectively.

Pakistani spin wizard Fawad Ahmed, who has caught the eye of the Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers, joins Melbourne University after a record-breaking season for Hoppers Crossing, while Derbyshire batsman Matt Lineker has landed at Frankston Peninsula and Damien Wright returns to Casey-South Melbourne after spending the past year as the New Zealand bowling coach.

In the Essteele Premier Firsts, inaugural Melbourne skipper Anna O’Donnell and her side face a strong Essendon Maribyrnong Park outfit that includes Commonwealth Bank VicSpirit squad members Kristen Beams, Briana Binch, Cassie Brock, Emily McIntyre and Molly Strano.

Brunswick Park’s clash against Box Hill and Plenty Valley’s fixture against Dandenong have been abandoned ahead of the weekend.

The 11-team Essteele Premier Seconds competition begins with a Twenty20 round and will feature the promoted Melton Cricket Club, which is led by Australian Indoor Representative Nicole Martin.

In other grades, Brighton District kicks off its 25-year anniversary celebrations with home matches against Melbourne in Premier Seconds and Gisborne in the One Day Shield, while the Victorian Women’s Cricket Association’s other newcomers, South Morang and Yarra Valley Stars, will begin their seasons against Melton in the One Day North West and Frankston in One Day South East competitions respectively.

The Premier Cricket Radio Show, hosted by John Zarb on Casey Radio 97.7FM and streamed live across the internet, will also return tomorrow and will be heard across the summer on Saturday mornings from 8-9am.

Victoria Premier Cricket (Round 1)

Frankston Peninsula v Haw-Monash Uni

North Melbourne v Melbourne

Carlton v Northcote

Prahran v Melbourne Uni

Essendon v Footscray Edgewater

Casey-South Melbourne v Dandenong

Richmond v Camberwell Magpies

Fitzroy/Doncaster v St Kilda

Ringwood v Geelong

VWCA Essteele Premier Firsts (Round 1)

Essendon Maribyrnong Park v Melbourne

Brunswick Park v Box Hill (abandoned)

Plenty Valley v Dandenong (abandoned)