NSW Country Team of the Decade: Newcastle, Dubbo, Central Coast, Illawarra players make cut
Don Bradman hailed from the country. So too Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood. The importance of country cricket is recognised with the first Bush Blues Team of the Decade. Who made the cut?
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Country NSW players have gone on to be some of the standouts of both Australian and world cricket in the past and present.
Now some of the most talented male players in country NSW have been recognised with a selection in the first Bush Blues team of the decade.
The 13-man squad, put together by former NSW Country Committee Chairman Ian Hogg and former NSW player and past Chair of Country Cricket selectors Tim Grosser, rewards those players who have given exceptional service in National Country Championships over an extended period.
NSW Country Male Team of the Decade
Graeme Batty (Opening Bat – Illawarra)
Batty was named Player of Australian Country Championships in 2010 and 2012. In 44 matches he made 1594 runs at 33.91.
He also recorded two centuries, nine half centuries and 20 catches and was NSW Country Player of Year 2009-10 and made the Australian Country Merit team on two occasions.
Jordan Moran (Opening Bat – Western (Dubbo)
Moran made the Australian Country Merit Team in 2017 and was named Player of the Australian Country Championships the same year.
He also scored a century (for NSW).
Simon Moore (Batsman – Newcastle)
In 71 matches he amassed 2747 runs at 38.24, notched four 100s, and extraordinary 18 half centuries and 35 catches.
He was NSW Player of Year in 2010-11 and in the Australian Country Cricket Hall of Fame in 2019.
Pat Darwen (Batsman – Newcastle
Darwen made the Australian Country Merit Team in 2017 and was NSW Player of the Country championships in 2017-18.
Jeff Cook (c) (All Rounder – Central Northern (Tamworth)
In his 29 matches Cook made 1062 runs at 36.62.
This included four centuries and four half centuries.
Kaine Harmsworth (All Rounder – Central Coast)
He was in the Australian Country Merit Team in 2012 and in 36 matches made 920 runs at 31.27 and two centuries and six half centuries.
Tom Groth (Wicketkeeper – Central Northern – Bingara)
In his 86 matches, he took 128 catches and 16 stumpings. He is the NSW Country Most Capped Player and made the Australian Country Merit team in both 2012 and 2014.
Also won the Ian Healy Leading Wicket-keeper Award in 2016 and 2020.
Joe Price (All Rounder – Newcastle)
The 2018 Player of Australian Country Championships, NSW Country Player of Year and made the Australian Country Merit team three years ago.
Caleb Ziebell (All Rounder – North Coastal Zone – Cudgen)
Made the 2018 Australian Country Merit team and was the 2018-19 NSW Country Cricketer of Year.
Boasts 662 runs at 38.58 with one century and two half centuries.
Scott Burkinshaw (Fast Bowler – Central Coast)
Made both the 2016 and 2020 Australian Country Merit teams. Made 50 wickets at 15.3 and was NSW Player of Aust Country Championships in 2019-2020.
Nick Foster (Off Spinner – Newcastle)
Foster represented at six Australian Country championships and has been captain since 2020.
Andrew Maher (Fast Medium Bowler – Newcastle)
Has played in 27 matches for 48 wickets at 21.08, has collected five wickets in an innings twice and was selected in Australian Country Merit team in 2012.
Ben Patterson (Fast Bowler – Western – Dubbo)
Patterson made the Australian Country Merit team in 2019 and was the NSW Player of the Australian Country championships in 2019
“Country and Regional NSW has always been a fundamental part of the great history and tradition of cricket in NSW and Australia,” said Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon.
“Indeed, the greatest cricketer of all time, Don Bradman, was born in Cootamundra and grew up in Bowral playing cricket.
“And of the six NSW players in the Australian Test team, Josh Hazlewood is from Bendemeer and Nathan Lyon from Young.
“As a part of the wicketkeeping fraternity I would particularly like to mention fellow gloveman Tom Groth, the most capped player for Country NSW.
“In a distinguished representative career Tom has played 86 matches for the Bush Blues, claiming 128 catches and 16 stumpings.
“He was selected in the Australian Country Merit Team of the Year in 2012 and 2014 and awarded the Ian Healy Wicket-Keeper Award in 2016 and 2020 for Australia’s leading country gloveman.
“Congratulations again to all the players and a special thank you to the many volunteers who make cricket such a vibrant sport right across the state.’’
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