Sixth and final Southern Smash franchise headed up by country star Tim Hutchison

Arc Infrastructure Aces are the sixth and final team to be announced for next month’s Southern Smash, with leading WA country player Tim Hutchison named their captain.

Hutchison will head up the new outfit, having made the switch from last year’s grand final team the Camtrans Bulldogs.

The Aces were announced earlier this week and have picked three quality players as part of the initial signing rules.

Former Italian international player and current Scarborough first grade captain Nick Maiolo will form part of the Aces line-up along with star Leschenault and WA Country XI batsman Tom Buchanan.

Their four initial signings are completed by local leg spinner Patrick Butler, who also has played for the WA Country XI. Hutchison said it was exciting to be part of a new team.

“We’ve put together a really strong team that should have some success,” Hutchison said.

“We have nailed down really exciting signings and brought some new some new players to the competition.

“In the first signings we’ve gone in spin heavy as we know it works well in T20 cricket but we’ll have a look for a big-hitting batsman at draft night and some good local players from the Great Southern.”

Albany’s Matt Heberle will coach the Aces in the second edition of WA’s premier regional Twenty20 competition.

The Aces and the Albany Finance Fury have been announced as the two new franchises to join the rapidly growing T20 tournament.

This year the expanded six-team competition will be played on December 28 and 29 and features a host of top level cricketers including Brad Hogg, Travis Birt and Ryan Duffield.

Meanwhile, former WA fast bowler Josh Nicholas has also been confirmed for this year’s tournament.

Nicholas plays first grade cricket for Perth and featured in five first class matches for WA taking 12 wickets.

He will enter the draft which will be held on November 22.

Player nominations for the tournament close this Sunday, November 15 and the Smash has already had in excess of 100 cricketers register their interest.

Arc Infrastructure Aces

Tim Hutchison – Captain

Nick Maiolo – Marquee

Tom Buchanan – Marquee

Patrick Butler – Local

Matt Heberle - Coach