THE increase in temperature has told us that summer is just around the corner and that means it is time to shake the mothballs out of the whites and give the bat a season starting coat of linseed oil.

Cricket season is upon us and the sound of a ball cracking on willow is very much anticipated throughout the Swan Hill District Cricket Association.

Local cricket begins this weekend, albeit a week later than the usual start to the season due to the late finish of football.

The longer break has meant an extra week of rest for some but for most it has created an extra week of anticipation and chomping on the bit to "get out there and have a crack"

That was the resounding feeling I got from all of the club captains across the Association.

The season begins with A Grade and B Grade teams playing a round of one day games while the C Graders will have to wait another two weeks before pulling on their whites.

All of the junior levels of cricket will also begin this weekend with a round of T20 fixtures.

The Under 12s and Under 17s play on Friday evening while the Under 14s play on Saturday morning.

For the first time ever there will be an all-girls team playing in the Under 14 competition, something that is a very exciting inclusion and a part of local cricket that the Association would like to grow.

There has been a small amount of recruiting and only a few transfers between clubs in the lead up to the new season and that means that in club land the teams will be stable with lots of opportunities for up and coming youngsters to make a contribution to their respective teams and earn a permanent spot in their side.

For a detailed preview of the upcoming cricket season grab a copy of this Friday's Guardian