It’s finally here, the 2025/26 Wangaratta and District Cricket Association season will officially kick off this weekend with the A grade and A reserve squads taking to the oval for the first time in the summer of cricket.

After all the net sessions, practice matches, and anticipation in the off-season, it’s finally time to let the willow and Kookaburra do the talking.

Up at Baarmutha Park, Beechworth Wanderers’ A grade squad are making their final preparations to launch into the season, set to take on Ovens Valley United this Saturday at McNamara Reserve from 12.30pm.

Wanderers A grade skipper Brenton Surrey said while it has been a slow build-up, the playing XI who take to the turf at Myrtleford will largely be the same established outfit as last season’s campaigners.

“Like most clubs, we’re still trying to gather the numbers and get people out of footy season, so numbers [at training] have been a bit low,” he said.

“I’m sure they’ll all come out of the woodwork probably next week.

“Jack Ryan is going to play cricket down in Melbourne, so he’ll be an out, but the rest will probably be similar.

“Will Prebble and Henry Scalzo will probably get a fair opportunity to continue their development, so we’ll look forward to that.”

Surrey will look to lead the way with the willow, top scoring for the club last season with 391 runs at 32.58, brother Kayde and young gun Clancy Ellett will provide depth with the bat, while Matt Ryan and Timothy Cogger will look to do the damage with the ball.

The Tigers won’t be pushovers – led by last year’s champion player, Geeth Alwis, Ovens Valley will look to take the next step in 2025/26, with bolstered bowling stocks fresh from England.

“Last year they weren’t far away, so I’m pretty sure they’ll be in a similar boat,” Surrey said of the Tigers.

“They’ve got some good cricketers, so it’ll be tough but we’ll see how we go.”

The Wanderers finished up last season third overall, knocked out of the two-day finals thanks to a washout against the higher-ranked Magpies.

They went 2-2 in the red ball format last season, but 4-2 in the shorter form – with the league scrapping two-day cricket in exchange for a mix of one-dayers and T20 matches, it’ll be intriguing to see how the Wanderers manage.

“I think it’ll be interesting to see how it goes,” Surrey said.

“Hopefully the competition can push forward, and whether they go back in the future, it is what it is.

“Hopefully it’s the best thing for all clubs and the association can thrive and push forward.”

The club’s other senior grades and juniors will commence their seasons next weekend, while Saturday sees the A graders take on Ovens Valley United from 12.30pm at McNamara Reserve.