Pattinson headlines Premier season opener

The 24-year-old is recovering from a stress fracture in his back and hasn’t played since Australia’s Test triumph over South Africa in Cape Town in March.

The Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers paceman will play as a batsman for the Panthers as they take on last year’s runners-up Essendon at Shepley Oval.

“I love playing for Dandenong at any opportunity I get,” Pattinson said.

“Premier Cricket in Victoria is such a strong competition and it helps to prepare players for the next level.

“My rehab has been going well so I’m looking forward to getting out there and making some runs.”

At Merv Hughes Oval, Footscray Edgewater will unveil their first flag in 34 seasons during the tea break as they play host to Casey-South Melbourne.

In the Women’s Premier Firsts, it will be an historic day at Toorak Park with Prahran fielding a women’s side for the first time after their amalgamation with Brunswick Park.

In her first match with the True Blues, Australian opening batter Nicole Bolton will captain the side as they take on Dandenong.

“It’s a real honour to be named the inaugural captain” Bolton said.

“The men have really welcomed us into the club and I know a lot of them are excited about coming to watch us on Sunday.

“Brunswick Park had a lot of good players that have made the switch to Prahran so we will be looking to make the finals this season.”

Reigning premier Box Hill will travel to Plenty Valley in the first round.

Bartercard Premier Cricket 1st XI Round 1 fixture (State squad members)

Saturday;
St Kilda V Ringwood at Junction Oval (James Muirhead)
Footscray Edgewater V Casey-South Melbourne at Merv Hughes Oval (Guy Walker)
Monash Tigers V Prahran at Central Reserve
Melbourne Uni V Hawthorn Monash Uni at University Oval
Fitzroy Doncaster V Greenvale Kangaroos at Schramms Reserve
Geelong V Carlton at Geelong Cricket Ground
Dandenong V Essendon at Shepley Oval (James Pattinson, Aaron Ayre, Louis Cameron)
Frankston Peninsula V Northcote at Butler Oval (Ben Ashkenazi, Matt Short)
Camberwell Magpies V Melbourne at Camberwell Sports Ground (Seb Gotch*)
*Victoria’s leading run-scorer Brad Hodge will also play for Melbourne

Sunday;
Melbourne V Essendon Maribyrnong Park at Albert Ground (Kristen Beams, Briana Binch, Emma Kearney, Emily McIntyre, Molly Strano)
Plenty Valley V Box Hill at AK Line Reserve (Kirsty Lamb, Cassie Brock, Anna Lanning, Meg Lanning)
Prahran V Dandenong at Toorak Park (Nicole Bolton, Elyse Villani, Jess Cameron, Nicola Hancock, Kathleen Hempenstall, Emma Inglis, Kelly Applebee, Sophie Molineux, Julie Hunter)