MPCA selectors name well-balanced and strong Country Week squad
A bunch of new names appear in the MPCA Country Week squad as selectors reward good form and young talent.
South East
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New faces and young talent feature in the MPCA Country Week squad of 30 announced this week.
“We had about 46 to choose from so we got it down to 30,” MPCA captain and co-selector Bobby Wilson said.
Former Frankston Peninsula paceman Jackson Mockett, who is playing with Pines this season, is a notable inclusion.
Mockett, 23, won the Heat’s bowling average last season and had seven seasons and 46 First XI games at Premier Cricket level.
Former Ferntree Gully association run machine Tom Boxell is also in the MPCA squad, although his availability for the annual carnival in February is up in the air.
Former West Bentleigh gun bat James Quarmby has been named after scoring a century for Carrum Downs in Round 2.
Selectors have rewarded Heatherhill bowler Jake Theobald for his outstanding form over the past two seasons, in which he’s taken 35 and 48 wickets.
The squad also has a string of exciting youngsters, including Mornington keeper-batsman Charlie Parker, Rosebud paceman Michael Clavin, Frankston YCW opening batsman Levi McLoughlin-Dore and Tyabb bowler Sam Holland-Burch.
Recent century makers Will Crowder, Thomas La Brooy, Justin Grant, Corey Harris, Nick Taranto and Damien Lawrence have also been named.
The squad will start training next Wednesday, with a North versus South game scheduled for December 1.
The MPCA has contested the past two Melbourne Country Week finals, winning it in 2018 and losing to Geelong CA earlier this year.
MPCA Country Week squad:
Chris Jobling (Boneo), Shaun Foster (Carrum), James Quarmby (Carrum Downs), Keirran Voelkl (Dromana), Kristian Miller (Heatherhill), Jake Theobald (Heatherhill), Tom Hussey (Langwarrin), Robbie Lancaster (Langwarrin), Tom Boxell (Long Island), Charlie Parker (Mornington), Tom Baron (Mt Eliza), Tim Clarke (Mt Eliza), Justin Grant (Mt Eliza), Matt Whelan (Mt Eliza), Damien Lawrence (Pines), Jackson Mockett (Pines), Harley Peace-Stirling (Pines), Will Crowder (POB), John Forrest (POB), James La Brooy (POB), Thomas La Brooy (POB), Dylan O’Malley (POB), Michael Clavin (Rosebud), Pat Nagel (Rosebud), Corey Harris (Sorrento), Bobby Wilson (Sorrento), Jake Wood (Sorrento), Sam Holland-Burch (Tyabb), Nick Taranto (Tyabb), Levi McLoughlin-Dore (Frankston YCW).