CASTERTON District Cricket Club enters the new Hamilton and District Cricket Association (HDCA) cricket season with a new home ground and hopes of achieving greater heights on the premiership ladder.

Last summer they held up the rest of the A grade competition, as the side became entrenched in last place, but it must be remembered that several of its best players were unavailable due to illness and injury over the course of the campaign.

There have been great strides taken at Island Park over the winter with the installation of a brand-new turf wicket block that will house four or five pitches.

It has replaced the old synthetic pitch that was in place on the number two oval for many years and will set the club up for many years to come, as it seeks to take its cricket to the next level.

The new wicket is not expected to be used until the new year so that the grass can bed down properly and of course it will take a while before it plays the way the club wants it to.

Club President, Jake Balzan, is excited to see the improvements that are happening in and around Island Park and cannot wait to have his teams playing on both ovals during the season.

“It’s been many years in the planning and to see the new wicket take shape has been exciting and I cannot wait to play a few games on it,” Balzan said.

“The old synthetic wicket was removed, and the new block laid around November last year.

“Rick Killey is the grounds co-ordinator, and he will primarily be looking after the curation of the turf wicket with much assistance from various club members.

“The club is really grateful to the Glenelg Shire Council for all the assistance and support with this project and I can see our junior players really getting the full benefit from it as we go forward as they learn how to play on turf which will only make them better players.

“We have lost only Joey McArlein from our A grade squad of last summer plus a couple of players from the lower grades, but we are confident that we will be much better this summer, but the new turf wicket will also help us recruit players to the club.

“McArlein has moved to Geelong for work, and he will be missed, but it just gives another player the opportunity to step up and showcase their wares.

“We have some players on the radar that we are talking to, but they are not confirmed yet but if they join us they will be exciting additions.”

The HDCA Match Committee sent a draft draw to all clubs earlier this month for all clubs to approve and to date the feedback has been positive.

“The draw appears to be pretty good from what I can see, and we are excited to string together a few games on the new turf,” Balzan said.

“At present all players are doing their own prep for the season but a few of the boys have been going down to the nets at Casterton and working on their skills and fitness.

“Our official club pre-season begins next Wednesday at Island Park, and all current, past and new players are welcome to come along,” Balzan said.

Casterton District will be looking to its stars in Rick and Matt Killey to once again carry much of the load in terms of batting and bowling while Kane Forbes and Ben Holmes will once again be batting high in the order, but the team needs more than these players to make a mark on each game if it is to rise up the ladder.

The return to more traditional long format games will suit Casterton District as they have the players who can bat for long periods and the bowlers who love to bowl long economical spells.

The club is yet to appoint the captain of the A Grade side as well as those of the C and D Grade teams too.