Last season was full of improvement for the West End Redbacks, making a Marsh Cup Final and winning numerous Sheffield Shield matches – including one against the eventual Champions Western Australia – and the Redbacks will be aiming to build on that in 2023/24.
With the Redbacks list now boasting nine players who have represented Australia or Australia A in the last 12 months, they have the list and the depth to do so.
Minimal change was made to the squad over the winter, with Victoria’s Jake Fraser-McGurk moving to South Australia for a new opportunity and Kelvin Smith getting a second chance on the Redbacks list.
They replaced Jake Weatherald, who moved to Tasmania and Nick Winter, while rookies Bailey Capel and Ryan King weren’t offered another contract.
South Australia squad: Wes Agar, Jordan Buckingham, Jake Carder, Alex Carey, Harry Conway, Brendan Doggett, Daniel Drew, Jake Fraser-McGurk, David Grant, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Spencer Johnson, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Nathan McAndrew, Nathan McSweeney, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Liam Scott, Henry Thornton, Kelvin Smith
Rookies: Kyle Brazell, Aidan Cahill, Isaac Higgins, Harry Matthias
South Australia’s bowling stocks are well placed, with an abundance of fast bowlers to choose from under new bowling coach Ryan Harris.
Buckingham and Thornton have been standouts for Australia A recently, with Thornton’s 7-39 on debut being the best ever List A figures for Aussie A, while Spencer Johnson is currently in India with an Australian white-ball squad.
With Doggett, Agar, McAndrew, Conway, Grant and all-rounder Scott also available to choose from, it is going to be tough for the selectors.
Reigning Neil Dansie Medallist Manenti and leggie Pope are the two spin options to select from, with McSweeney also a handy part-time spinner.
Putting in the work with only one week until we are back in the middle for the opening match of the season! #BackTheBacks pic.twitter.com/97u4KTg9VG
— West End Redbacks (@WestEndRedbacks) September 19, 2023
When it comes to batting, Drew will be hoping to maintain his form from his breakout season where he finished second on the Shield runs tally with 656 runs, including a memorable double century at Adelaide Oval.
Hunt, McSweeney, Lehmann and Manenti were all regular contributors with the bat alongside Drew and are set to be mainstays in the line up again.
With captain Head, alongside keeper Carey, unlikely to feature much for the Redbacks due to their Australian commitments, Lehmann will lead South Australia this season, with Australia A captain McSweeney to be his deputy.
Last week in a Second XI match against Queensland, the Redbacks won by 24 runs inside three days, with Fraser-McGurk making 108 and 84 in his first official South Australian match, while Buckingham (eight wickets) and Pope (seven wickets) stood out for the bowlers.
The Redbacks begin their season on Tuesday, September 26 with a Marsh Cup match against Western Australia at Allan Border Field, before playing Queensland on Thursday, September 28 in the same format.
Squad of 14 for Opening Marsh Cup Round: Jake Lehmann (C), Nathan McSweeney (VC), Wes Agar, Jordan Buckingham, Jake Carder, Harry Conway, Daniel Drew, Brendan Doggett, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Henry Hunt, Ben Manenti, Nathan McAndrew, Harry Nielsen, Henry Thornton
They will open their Sheffield Shield season at home, facing Tasmania at Karen Rolton Oval from Tuesday, October 3, with free entry to the match all four days.