Cricket
24 January, 2026
All Stars ready to go big
The best players in the Horsham Cricket Association will suit up at Horsham City Oval from 4pm to play a T20 All Stars game, with proceeds going towards the bushfire recovery effort.
The game will comprise the best players from the association’s Northern teams going up against the best players from the South teams.
HCA president Justtin Combe said the game will have a Big Bash League-style environment, with power surges and free hits for all no balls.
He encouraged people to get down and contribute to a good cause.
“You’ve got the best 24 blokes in the competition playing against each other, so hopefully there will be some big hitting, some runs taken, and should be a terrific day,” Combe said.
“There will be a barbecue, with all proceeds from that being donated to the bushfire cause, as well as a gold coin donation.
“The bar will be open upstairs in the clubroom.
“We will also have music going in between balls and overs, so it should have a BBL atmosphere to it.”
As well as contributing to a good cause, Combe said the All Stars game will be a high-quality alternative to inter-association games.
“A lot of people in the community were impacted by the fires, so this is something that we could contribute to assist them,” Combe said.
“The game also partly came about by our association not playing other associations this season,” Combe said.
“We wanted to get something going, and with all the clubs and players in the association now, we thought that if we split them in half, we could come up with a pretty high-standard game.
“It also keeps players keen on representing the association moving forward.”
Nathan Alexander will skipper the North team, with PRP Horsham's Ben Sawyer as coach, while Tony Caccaviello will lead the South team, with Wimmera Mallee News' Clint King as coach.
Arrive at 3pm with the first ball at 4pm.
If you’ve been following the HCA season or not, there is plenty of talent across both the North and South All-Star teams. Here is all you need to know about the players.
North All-Stars
Brad Alexander (West Wimmera): 461 runs, 8 wickets, 7 catches
The batting allrounder has been the most dominant batsman in the competition this season with three unbeaten centuries and an 81 not out to go with his eight wickets with his handy off spin bowling. An aggressive right hand batter who once in, has proven he can go big.
Nathan Alexander (WW): 20 wickets and 388 runs, 7 catches
The competition’s fastest bowler and hard-hitting ultra aggressive right hand batter, the two-time Cec Hopper Medalist and former premier cricket 1st XI player is as formidable a cricketer as there is in the Wimmera. As well as being among the leading wicket takers this season, Alexander is coming off an incredible double century against St Mary’s.
Mitch Dahlenburg (WW): 150 runs, 6 catches
A right hand top order batter and wicket keeper, Dahlenburg has been Mr Consistent ever since West Wimmera joined the Horsham Cricket Association, boasting over 3000 runs at 44 in that time. Will look to bat deep into the innings and set up the game.
Joshua Lees (WW): 13 wickets, 50 runs
Another fast-bowling product from out west, Lees rarely gets the accolades he deserves. The quick is skilful with the new ball and always a captain’s favourite running in hard at all occasions for his team.
Koby Westerland (Donald Jeffcott): 290 runs, 7 catches, 1 stumping
The right hand top order bat and wicketkeeper is sitting third on the run-scoring tally. Westerland puts a high price on his wicket and consistently delivers for the newcomers to the competition.
Cooper Anderson (Donald Jeffcott): 13 wickets, 194 runs
Right hand batter and right hand bowler all rounder who opens both the batting and bowling for his club. A busy batter who looks to smack bowlers over their head and smart bowler who uses swing and seam to his advantage.
Tyler Puls (Horsham Tigers): 125 runs, 4 catches.
A right hand batter and a left hand bowler whose bowling efforts were curtailed due to an injury early in the season. A technically correct batter who values his wicket highly and scores freely through point. Showed his class this year with an unbeaten and a match-winning 90 against St Mary’s.
Shannon Reddie (Lubeck/Murtoa): 237 runs, 20 wickets, 7 catches
The allrounder has scored the ninth-most runs this year and equal fourth-most wickets, which summarises Reddie’s value to the Mudlarks outfit. A hard-hitting and aggressive batter and cagey bowler who knows how to extract movement out of the wicket.
Cam Newell (Lubeck/Murtoa): 249 runs, 11 wickets
A leg-spinning allrounder who has handled his accession to the Mudlarks’ captaincy well. Newell has been known to bat big and looks to punish bowlers when they make mistakes with their line or length.
Aiden Keys (St Mary’s): 13 wickets
Right arm fast bowler who has impressed this year with St Mary’s. Has taken the new ball and consistently extracted top order wickets for the Saints. A captain’s dream who will run in all day.
Lachlan McGinniss (Brim KSH): 17 wickets, 100 runs
An incredibly cagey right arm medium pacer who ties batters in knots with his variations and away swing bowling. McGinniss is also a more than handy middle to late order batter who can strike the long ball.
Isaac McPherson (Brim KSH): 192 runs, 7 wickets, 4 catches and 2 stumpings
A left hand batter and keeper whose aggressive batting has been the cornerstone of the Brim batting unit for some time. Mr do it all, McPherson often keeps the first half of a game before switching to bowl his more than useful left arm off spinners.
South All Stars
Zachary Marrow (Swifts-Great Western): 282 runs, 21 wickets, 10 catches
The definitive Mr do it all with the bat, ball, gloves and in the field, the top order batsmen has dazzled in his club’s first year in the competition, currently fourth on the run scoring list. Another keeper come spin bowler who is incredibly the third-highest wicket taker for the year to date including a 10-wicket haul in the last round before Christmas.
Aiden Graveson (SGW): 290 runs, 7 catches
The Combine skipper and opening batter has impressed in his club’s first year in the HCA. An aggressive batter who has already clocked six maximums this year, the shorter format and short straight boundaries at City Oval will suit his game.
Max McMahon (SGW): 213 runs
A talented batsman who has found form in the middle order of the Combine after starting the season at the top of the order. McMahon will be looking to make his mark in this game and is expected to enjoy the fast City Oval surface and pristine outfield.
Matt Combe (Bullants): 22 wickets, 195 runs, 5 catches
A bowling allrounder who has been a dominant bowler in the competition for some time and those familiar will know of his feats with the bat. Combe has represented Vic Country, been selected in the Victorian Country Cricket League (VCCL) team of the year, and led the association's representative efforts in recent years.
Tony Caccaviello (Bullants): 22 wickets, 162 runs
Tall right hand fast bowler has wound the clock back this year, currently joint competition leader in wickets taken alongside Combe. A handy late order slogger who enjoys the short straight boundaries at City Oval, Caccaviello boasts an impressive resume with Vic Country and Australian Country caps, VCCL Team of the year and Cec Hopper Medal winner.
Jaime Byrne (Bullants): 210 runs
A left hand top order bat who is a gifted timer of the cricket ball and hits it harder than most. Averaging over 52 this season with a series of momentum-turning innings for the Bullants. Will look to put pressure back on the bowlers.
Chaminda Gamage (Laharum): 17 wickets, 184 runs
An off spin allrounder, Gamage has been the leading spinner in the competition for some time, averaging under 11 with the ball across the last three seasons while being a constant wicket threat. An unconvential left hand batter who scores quickly in unique places and has multiple half-centuries to his name this season.
Daniel Griffiths (Laharum): 244 runs, 6 catches
A strong batsman who is back into cricket this year after a season off and has been a coup for the mountain men of Laharum. A high level opening batter who is capable of big time performances. Technically correct and particularly suited to shorter formats of the game with his aggressive approach.
Jason Kannar (Laharum): 171 runs, 10 wickets
A spin-bowling allrounder who bats and bowls left handed who is making his impact known after a few seasons off. A proven winner and someone who makes every team he plays in better. May go down as the recruit of the year for Laharum; look for him to feature in this game and the rest of the season.
Josh Colbert (Colts): 194 runs, 12 wickets
A right hand top order bat and medium pace bowler, Colbert is a compact batter and skilful seam bowler. A key cog in the Colts line up, the allrounder can win a game with bat or ball as shown by his average with the bat of 33 over the past three years, and 42 wickets at 13 with the ball.
Joey Nagorcka (Colts): 15 wickets, 102 runs
A right hand fast bowler who is continuing to fulfil the huge potential he showed during his junior career. Nagorcka will be a handful for the top order of the North All Stars with the ball, and has the ability to throw around the bat for quick runs.
Jay Couch (Colts): 15 wickets, 81 runs
The left hand medium bowler is a skilful workhorse and Colts stalwart who is back in the wickets this year. A captain’s dream, Couch will bowl all day with control and this year has shown he is more than capable with the bat, notching a half century when the chips were down earlier in the year.