By MATT NICHOLLS
BIG BASH cricket returns to Armidale on Friday night as the annual Armidale Premier League returns for a fifth season.
Three franchises – Sportspower, Ace-Buttercup and Adda Constructions – return to the field, while Moxon’s Bakery will be represented for the first time.
Although promoted as a Twenty20 competition, each game is made up of two 15-over innings, however they consist of eight-ball overs to speed up the match.
The tournament runs over four weeks, with each franchise playing each other once before the finals on 23 February.
The round matches are play at the New England Mutual Sportsground on Friday nights, while the finals are at the same venue on a Sunday.
The annual draft was held last week, with Sportspower captain Tom Armitage selecting Dean Moore with his first pick.
Karl Triebe was the second selection for Ace-Buttercup, while Michael Dawson and Ben Welch were the respective third and fourth picks for ADDA Constructions and Moxon’s Bakery.
The tournament kicks off on Friday at 5.30pm, with Sportspower to face Adda Constructions, while Ace-Buttercup plays against Moxon’s Bakery at 8pm.
SQUADS
ADDA CONSTRUCTIONS: Matt Schaefer (c), Tom Benthall, Scott Brennan, Tyson Burey, Josh Croft, Michael Dawson, Michael Frost, Jared Graham, Nick Levy, Jim Piddington, Andrew Skinner, Joe Stace, Sam Uphill, Aaron Whackett, Andrew Williams.
ACE-BUTTERCUP: Luke Brown (c), Jason Boland, Braydon Graham, Cody Graham, Scott Graham, Matt Jackson, Ben Jackson, Harrison King, Adam Lennon, Dale Northam, Shannon Rafferty, Trevor Smith, Kyle Taylor, Karl Triebe, Gary Yeomans.
MOXON’S BAKERY: Stephen Butler (c), Henry Cupitt, Jacob Davies, Ben Hanlon, Rumman Hassan, Dick Heagney, Clarrie Moran, Matt Morrow, Matt Preston, Brad Smith, Adam Sweeney, Matt Tremayne, Ben Welch, Brad Widders, PJ Wright.
SPORTSPOWER: Tom Armitage (c), Alex Brown, Andrew Brown, Sam Constance, Lachlan Elks, Steve Haydon, Matt Kenafake, Brad King, Barry Lockwood, Mitch Moore, Dean Moore, Jason O’Reagan, Brad Rafferty, Paul Schmude, Nick Sewell.
