The OEM Audio Premier Men kick start their season with the two-day competition on 7 and 14 October.

Much interest will surround the inclusion of Merivale Papanui in the grade for the first time, who will host a strong Old Boys Collegians side in Round 1.  Burnside West are the defending champions in this format and they will host St Albans in Round 1.

Heathcote host Lancaster Park and East Shirley host Sydenham in the other opening games on 7&14 October.

Burnside West have added NZ U19 Captain Oscar Jackson to their squad and Over 40’s NZ Rep Steve Hobson.  David Zohrab will also play a full season in Christchurch this summer.  Callum Hill has moved to Australia and Ben Ward joined the navy, so they are missing from last year.  Other top performers including Jackson Latham, Matthew Hay and Alex Tait return.

Lancaster Park welcome Nathan McNicol from East Shirley and top order batter Thomas Walshe from Riccarton.  Otago A player Jack Pryde has moved up from Dunedin and Oscar Wilson also returns after a season down south.  Will Harby will be a visiting UK player who has represented the Kent 2^nd XI.  Michael Davison has joined the police force and his availability will depend on work commitments.

East Shirley welcome Shane Wineti from the North Island and look forward to the return of Tom Gooday following a long-term injury.  Jeremy Duncan is the new captain.  East Shirley have lost stalwarts Ben Hanham and Jed Roberts to retirement, Regan Sheahan and Myran Moore are overseas, Mitch McMillan is out injured and McNicol to Lancaster Park.

The Old Boys Collegians squad is similar to last season.  Jeff Case moved to Australia last season and Cam Fletcher has moved to Auckland.  Dylan Hunter arrived from Australia half-way through last season and will be here for the duration this time as he pushes for higher honours.  CD Under 19 pair Lovepreet Prada and Sam Cassidy will be available during University period and when at full-strength they can also call on contracted players Ish Sodhi, Sean Davey, Ed Nuttall, Matt Boyle and Angus McKenzie.  Jack Lewis is back as captain.

Much interest will surround the performance of Merivale Papanui, who have been promoted to the OEM Audio Premiership for the first time.  They will be looking to the bulk of last seasons squad who achieved the feat to back up again this year.  Jacob Wilson, Sam Gillespie and UK import Sam Medhurst all claimed 40+ wickets last year, so will once again be looking to lead the bowling attack.  Rory Hawes, Matt Ling and Luke Piper headed the run scoring charts and will be looking to continue their good form of last season.

St Albans have been a perennial front runner in the two-day competition in recent years, including being in the running until late on the final day of last season.  They have however lost stalwarts Aaron Johnstone and Matt Holstein to retirement and James O’Gorman who is having a season off.  It will be tough to replace the experience of this trio.  On the plus side, Joe Lowe who had a great season last year, is returning from the UK and will be joined on the plane by Nabil Moughal.  Ben Rapson has joined from Riccarton as player-coach and Toby Clement will aim to fill the void behind the stumps left by the retirement of Johnstone.  NZ Under 19 rep Josh Olliver will be back after joining last season and his brother Angus will also play when in Christchurch.

The Heathcote squad will have a familiar look to it and be led by outstanding performer of recent seasons, Tyler Lortan.  Caleb Donaldson has joined from East Shirley and Max Chaplin has joined from the Parnell Premiers. Dutch import Phillipe Boissevain has registered for his second Christchurch season and impressed last year with his leg spin while last years OEM Audio Premier wicket-keeper of the season Tom Dunlop will continue with the gloves and bat in the top order.

Sydenham will have a familiar look to their side, led by last season Club Player of the Year, Bevon-John Jacobs.  The experience of Tom Agnew and Ryan Wallace will be important, while Aarush Bhagwat has made great strides with his glove-work over the winter and is in the frame for higher honours.  New Canterbury squad members Michael Rae and Michael Rippon will also both play for Sydenham when representative commitments allow.

Article added: Wednesday 04 October 2023