THE 2009-10 Murray Towns cricket season kicks off this week with some mouth-watering A grade clashes first up.
Sides will begin playing one-day matches before entering two-day cricket in the second half of the season.
Monarto v Wanderers
These two sides have enjoyed some legendary battles over the years and this week's encounter will be no exception.
Both are finals contenders and they both will be keen to stamp their mark on the competition with a win first up.
Much depends on what sides take the field.
Wanderers have the Jaensch boys in doubt, while the gun veteran Noel Hartman is a week to week proposition.
Monarto may be without their best batsman from last season, Sam Pfeiffer.
The Black Caps have a youthful looking side and will be expecting big things from the likes of Mark Rumbelow, Neil Anderson, Sean Samblich and Alex Pfeiffer.
If Wanderers can convince Simon Williams to play A grade this should tip the odds in their favour.
Williams will complement the batting of Todd Blucher, Geoff Abdulla, Jason Rehn, Hartman and Michael Trotter.
There is plenty of experience in the Woo Hoos outfit and this should get them over the line.
Mypolonga v Meningie
Anything could happen in this match.
Last season, when these two teams met, Meningie batted first against the competition's best opening bowling combination of Aaron Zrim and Jack Daniell.
Stewie Willis and Richard Boscence opened the batting for the Lakesiders and proceeded to tear the attack apart, both narrowly falling short of centuries.
Meningie won the game comfortably.
This equation could come true again.
Having said that, it is just as likely that Zrim and Daniell will roll through the Meningie order for a low score and the Tigers will cruise to victory.
It really comes down to who wins, Meningie’s two best batsman or Mypolonga’s two best bowlers.
Whoever wins this battle will no doubt win the game.
While it is close call I'll have to stick with the reigning premiers Mypolonga to win a nail-biter.
Imperials v Karoonda
With captain and impeccable batsman Corey Knight rumoured to be out for this match, Imperials are a chance of causing an upset.
But a lot depends on what sort of side they fill.
Nathan Williams is out for most of the season and will be a huge blow to the Blues’ bowling stocks.
If Clay Leckie plays he is capable of more than covering for Williams, while co-captains Luke Harrowfield and Nathan Hutchinson and “Squeak” Thoman also provide options with the ball.
With the bat they have a solid opening partnership in Wayne Gilgen and Craig Kempe, some class with Harrowfield, some stability in Andrew Fidge and some brute force in the form of that likeable character Roger Puckridge. If Fidge and Leckie are available and Knight is out then the odds almost tip into Imperials' favour.
But beware of Karoonda.
The Magpies are wounded after their shock grand final defeat last season.
Even without Knight I think the allround talents of Luke Hocking, Scott Huxtable, Rhys Bullard, Josh Rudiger and Alex Keough will be too much for the Blues.
Karoonda in a close one.
Jervois v Mannum
Mannum will begin the season on minus 10 points due to failing to attend an association meeting, and they will be gunning for victory to get themselves back on level terms.
But with the loss of Bruce Hameister and captain Dwayne Krollig being unable to bowl, the Kookas' bowling attack does not have that intimidating look that it used to.
This will please the Bluds who have a habit of collapsing when faced with fast, aggressive bowling.
If Jervois can bat out their overs and give young bowlers Andrew Penhall, Adrian Lloyd and Zack Nock something to bowl at, they might be a silly chance.
The responsibility of scoring the baulk of their runs will fall on the shoulders of veterans Brenton Schultz and Daniel "Happy" Gilmour.
However Krollig will not let this one slip.
"Cutter" knows what it takes to win and the Kookas still have some talent with new recruit Danny Walker to lead their bowling and Zakk Bullard, "Flea" Vivian, Ben Quinn, "Farmer" Gladigau and Tyrone Kelsh to lend Krollig some support with the bat.
Despite looking weaker than last season Mannum still have enough talent to outclass Jervois.
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