The total of 25 Highlands-based cricket teams has the competition bulging at the seams, after there was only 19 last season.

The extra teams mean grounds like Tourist Road near Kangaloon, Government Road at Yerrinbool and the Hume Oval at Picton are all ready to host games.

Chairman of the Highlands District Cricket Association, Jeff Mitchell, said that the 2009/10 season was set to be a year of growth for cricket in the region.

“We are looking forward to a great season,” Mitchell said.

Some of the Highlands’ best cricketers, including Dean Roxburgh, Mitch Wright [pictured], Nathan Wright and Matt Arnull are also preparing for the first round of the Burns Cup on Sunday.

Roxburgh, in his seventh year with the Burns Cup team, said he was looking forward to leading the side against the South Coast.

“It’s actually a pretty good team we’ve got this year, so maybe we’ll be able to go better than last year,” Roxburgh said.

“I don’t know a few of the guys in this year’s team but I am sure we will all get together and get along well.”