New-look Redbacks hope to find their bite

South Australia's new leadership team of Michael Klinger and Callum Ferguson begin their summer this weekend knowing that the only way is up. The Redbacks finished on the bottom of the Sheffield Shield and Ford Ranger Cup tables last season and they have been the nation's underachievers in recent decades, having won no titles since 1995-96.

There was one glimmer of hope, when they made the final of the KFC Big Bash, and although they lost to Victoria it was enough to earn them a place at last month's Champions League. Klinger, who has taken over as captain from Graham Manou, said the team would take heart from their fine efforts at the Champions League, where they reached the semi-finals.

"Two games to go in both formats [last season] we were in contention to play the final and just fell away in our last few games," Klinger told ESPNcricinfo. "We know we can play some really good cricket and we come into the season full of confidence after a good Champions League, so we're hoping to kick-start our season well. Last year we had to play a bit of catch-up after starting the season quite poorly."

In a considerable shake-up to their playing list, the former internationals Mark Cosgrove and Dan Cullen were axed, Mark Cleary headed to Victoria and several fringe players were cut. Replacements were sought interstate, and the Redbacks have pulled together a squad that they believe can lift the team's fortunes.

The powerful limited-overs batsman Aiden Blizzard was signed up from Victoria, and with him came the fast bowler Rob Cassell. They had lost pace-bowling experience through the departure of Cleary and the retirement of Paul Rofe, so the fast man Ben Edmondson was enticed from Western Australia.

It continued South Australia's trend of acquiring players from other states - Klinger, Daniel Christian, Tom Cooper, Aaron O'Brien and Tim Ludeman have all arrived by that path in recent years. Ferguson, the new vice-captain, is happy with the recruits, while home-grown talents like James Smith and Jake Haberfield will also be watched with interest.

"We're thrilled with the list that we've got together at the moment," Ferguson said. "To be able to bring some quality quicks in like Ben Edmondson and Rob Cassell, they're fantastic inclusions for us and it gives our bowling some depth. Cossie [Mark Cosgrove] is a loss but we feel like our young players have really taken some good steps forward in the last 12 months. We're really confident going in to this summer."

South Australia begin their Ryobi Cup campaign against New South Wales at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, before they follow with a Sheffield Shield match two days later. Blizzard and Edmondson are in line to make their first appearances for their new state in the one-day game.

Ryobi Cup squad Michael Klinger (capt), Daniel Harris, Tom Cooper, Aiden Blizzard, Callum Ferguson, Cameron Borgas, Graham Manou (wk), Daniel Christian, Aaron O'Brien, Kane Richardson, Chris Duval, Ben Edmondson, Gary Putland.