Keilor has strengthened its line up as it hopes to take the next step in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division.
The Blues finished last season in eighth spot but there were just 12 points between fourth and ninth at season end.
Keilor got on the front foot early on with its signings, locking in recently retired Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne for the next three years.
Karunaratne joins the Blues straight out of international cricket having retired after playing 100 test matches. He has played in Endeavour Hills and Caroline Springs previously.
They’ve also added some more experience to the group.
Blues coach Duncan Harrison said it had been a good off season.
“We’ve had a really good pre-season,” he said. “We’ve retained everybody which is what we wanted.
“For the last four or five years we’ve been building a group and have slowly been building.
“That has been good and we would really close this season.”
Joining Karunaratne in joining the Blues are Harry Warrick, Zac Koch and Isuru Yaddehige.
Warrick is a top order bat from England.
Koch joins his brother Jonah Koch at the Blues.
Yaddehige makes the move across from division 1 side Sunshine, which made the grand final last year.
He is a medium pace bowler and also goes OK with the bat.
Harrison said they felt all four would be handy additions and would hopefully help them get those few more wins they’re after to play finals.
“We felt like we were in games for longer, in them for 80 per cent of them,” he said. “If we can stay in the contest longer we’ll build to some more wins.”
Harrison said the club had also added some recruits to their women’s program and retained the majority of their players there.
He said the focus on building from within was continuing to pay off.
“We have a good program and a good club and we don’t have to recruit each year,” he said.
“We have strong numbers in cricket blast and an extra under-12 team this year.
“These things are really important.”
The VTCA season is set to kick off on October 4 with a round of one-dayers.
The Blues will be at home against Yarraville Club.
Other matches scheduled for Saturday include Deer Park against St Albans, and Sydenham-Hillside and Airport West St Christophers at Hillside Recreation Reserve.
