Named: 35+ players to watch at Melbourne Country Week

Run machines, young guns, X-factor players and even a former Melbourne Stars Big Bash leg spinner are in action at this week’s Country Week cricket tournament. See every team’s players to watch.

Liam Bowe of the Melbourne Stars appeals at Melbourne Cricket Ground. (Photo by George Salpigtidis/Getty Images)

Some of the best-credentialed, in-form cricketers from around Victoria will play at Melbourne Country Week, starting on Monday.

There is quality in every side.

Here are the squads and players to watch:

PROVINCIAL

WARRNAMBOOL MOYNE

Jack Burnham: The star Englishman blitzed 220 for Northern Raiders in the opening round of the season and has racked up 463 runs, at 66. Has all the shots, including the ramp.

Jimmy Elford: The four-time Warrnambool and District Cricket Association premiership star is a match-winner with bat and ball. Has scored 111 and 91 for Northern Raiders this season and taken 30 wickets, at 8.2.

Squad: Cam Williams, Jack Burnham, Chris Bant, Farooq Qureshi, Jacob Hetherington, Bailey Jenkinson, Todd Lamont, Kal Sineth, Jimmy Elford, Daniel Hawkins, Matt Petherick, Rommel Shahzad, Sanjaya Chathuranga, Mark Murphy, Geoff Williams, Jason Mungean (Coach).

Dale Kerr takes a catch for North Geelong. Picture: Mark Wilson

GEELONG

Billy Ford: The 26-year-old has been in mint form with three centuries and almost 600 runs for St Peter’s this season. Loves facing the white ball and accumulates runs efficiently by hitting the gaps.

Lachie Sperling: The former Casey South Melbourne and Vic Country star will play a key role with bat and ball at Country Week. Crunched 123no off 93 balls for Newtown and Chilwell a fortnight ago.

Dale Kerr: The champion will be a handful for opposition batsmen with his pace, swing both ways and ability to target the stumps. Coming off a dynamic spell of 5-36 off 21 overs for North Geelong.

Squad: Nick Butters (South Barwon), Sam Coutts (Grovedale), Sam Ellis (South Barwon), William Ford (St Peters), Noah Guida (Newtown & Chilwell), Sam Hall (North Geelong) Harry Hauenstein (South Barwon), Dale Kerr (North Geelong), Alistair McCann (North Geelong), Ronnie Mckenna (Newtown & Chilwell), Rob Smith (Grovedale), James Stokes (St Peters), Lachie Sperling (Newtown & Chilwell). Bailey Sykes (North Geelong), Philip Visser (North Geelong), Gregory Willows (Highton), Brad Hauenstein (South Barwon, coach), Sean O’Neill (East Belmont, assistant coach).

Liam Bowe bowls for the Stars (AAP Image/Sam Wundke)

BENDIGO

Liam Bowe: The former Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder BBL leg-spinner has racked up 38 wickets for Sandhurst this season. Will cause plenty of headaches for batsmen at Country Week.

Daniel Clohesy: The big-game performer who scored a century for Strathdale-Maristians in last season’s grand final has peeled off three tons and 535 runs at 76 this season. Drop short outside off and he’ll cut it for four.

Squad: Grant Waldron (Strathdale-Maristians, captain), Liam Smith (Golden Square, vice-captain), Josh Ansell (White Hills), James Marri (Strathdale-Maristians), Taylor Beard (sandhurst), Liam Bowe (Sandhurst), Daniel Clohesy (Strathdale-Maristians), Brent Hamblin (Kangaroo Flat), Kyle Humphrys (Bendigo), Rylea Jones (Sandhurst), Jake Marshall (White Hills), Jack Neylon (Strathdale-Maristians), Kyle Welsh (White Hills), Matt Wilkinson (Strathdale-Maristians)

CASEY CARDINIA

Ankush Rana: The paceman bowls straight and fast, hits the stumps regularly and knows how to celebrate. Leads the CCCA wickets tally with 26 this season.

Callum O’Hare: The Tooradin champion is having another bumper season opening the batting and blasting 458 runs, including two unbeaten centuries. Will captain Casey Cardinia.

Squad: Callum O’Hare (Tooradin, captain), Yoshan Arumadura (Cardinia), Trishane De Silva (Cardinia), Trevor Bauer (Clyde), Ankush Rana (Clyde), Ben Marsh (Devon Meadows), Lucas Ligt (Devon Meadows), Chris Bright (Koo Wee Rup), Shiran Rathnayake (Koo Wee Rup), Tobias Van Den Heever (Merinda Park), Jason Williams (Pakenham), Raja Sadig (Pakenham Upper), Kasun Balasuriya (Carlisle Park), Ben Parrott (Tooradin), Tyler Evans (Tooradin). Emergencies: Kasun Balasuriya (Carlisle Park), Tom Hussey (Tooradin)

LEONGATHA

Lachie Wright: Has ripped through batting line-ups this season and is coming off an eight-wicket match haul for Imperials.

Ethan Lamers: The reigning Gippsland player of the year hit 115, 87 and 125 in successive matches this season for Outtrim Moyarra Kongwak. Gets them quickly.

Squad: Ron Abeysinghe, Ethan Lamers, Aydan Williams, Joel Brann (vc), Mitchell Clark, Jake Cochrane, Mustafa Nader, Jack Ginnane (c), Jack Butcher, Lachie Wright, George McCausland, Alex Geyer, Dylan Clark, Jack Curtis, Madura Madusanka, Tom Cameron.

BAIRNSDALE

Brodie Anderson: The prolific opener is averaging 117 for West Bairnsdale this season, including an unbeaten 211 and 105no.

Connor Mitchell: The former Zimbabwe U19 all-rounder is one to watch this week. Has taken 38 wickets and hit 371 runs for Meerlieu.

Squad: Ryan Halford, Brodie Anderson, Jayanga Peiris, Jack Timms, Cameron McPhan, Connor Mitchell, Nathan Schoultz, Reagan Kyle-Manager, Samuel Stewart, Isaac Love, Josh Sackfield, Ricky Tatnell, Seth Smith, Scott Dare, Scott Davidson (driver), Pat Halford (scorer).

Nathan Walsh fields for Victoria. Picture: Kevin Farmer

FERNTREE GULLY DISTRICT

Nathan Walsh: The record-breaking run machine goes into Country Week in hot form, off the back of an unbeaten 125 and 54 for Lysterfield.

Danny O’Shea: The all-rounder is having a golden summer, with 294 runs and 27 wickets at 13.7 with his well-flighted left-arm spinners for The Basin.

Squad: Nathan Walsh (c), Jake Toohey, Jackson Waters, Patrick Mastertoun, Daniel Cormack, Jack Hammond, James Dekel, Danny O’Shea, Josh Priestley, Zachary Allen, Josh Lindner, Jarrod Butcher, Jake Balfour, Ben Grimshaw, Trent Atkinson, Chandima Abeykoon.

SALE MAFFRA

Jake Wynd: The Stratford all-rounder hits the ball cleanly and is a proven wicket-taker.

Jack Rietschel: The Victorian representative is a class act with his death batting and spin bowling — he’s taken 26 wickets at 7.5 for Stratford this season.

Squad: Jack Rietschel, Daniel Padula, Dylan Bolton, Matthew Hinks, Freddie Fallows, Zac Hurley, Coenie Nel, Jake Wynd, Max Welsh, Anthony Scott, Benjamin Jones, Matthew Raidal.

DIVISION 2

MORNINGTON PENINSULA

Sam Field: The Flinders all-rounder will make his Country Week debut at just 15 after a period of sustained success, including 476 runs at 59.5 for his club’s First XI and captaining Melbourne’s Dowling Shield side.

Ash Nagel: A prolific wicket taker for Rosebud, along with his brother Patrick. They’ll test batsmen with a rigid line and length.

Squad: Kierran Voelkl (captain, Dromana), Aiden McKenna (vc, Long Island), Hayden Cummings (Mornington), Sam Field (Flinders), Sam Fowler (Dromana), Lachlan Hose (Tyabb), Billy Humphrey (Pines), Dilasri Lokubandara (Boneo), Cameron Moon (Mornington), Ash Nagel (Rosebud), Harley Peace-Stirling (Pines), Matt Prosser (Langwarrin), Andrew Smith (Langwarrin), Samson Storey (Boneo). Emergencies: Jack Gorbert (Baden Powell), Sam Holland-Burch (Long Island), James Spencer (Heatherhill), Jean Luc-Talbot (Mt Eliza)

South West batsman Johno Benallack. Picture: Mark Wilson

SOUTH WEST

Eddie Lucas: Has been in rich form with the bat this season, including scores of 60, 95, 117 and 77 for Bookaar.

Johno Benallack: A match-winner who hits the ball hard and scores quickly.

Squad: Johno Benallack (captain), Lachie Boyle, Matt Boyle, Harry Carter, Louis Darcy, Jamie Dwell, Lachie Green, Hamish Huffadine, matty Kemp, Charlie Lucas, Eddie Lucas, Max Moor, James O’Neil, Henry Stevens, Paul Vogels.

BELLARINE PENINSULA

Clay Mulgrew: Has been an absolute star for Armstrong Creek this season with back-to-back centuries and a six-wicket haul.

Simon Umbers: The determined opener is one to watch this week after a string of half centuries for Anglesea.

Squad: Billy Gravett (Wallington), Dane Wise Graham (Wallington), Matthew Sampson Barnes (Wallington), Simon Umbers (Anglesea), Zac Jones (Ocean Grove), Will Liddle (Surf Coast), Hayden Illingworth (Queenscliff), Archer Jacques (Barrabool), James Fisher (Barrabool), Shane Murdoch (Winchelsea), Daniel Maclean (Armstrong Creek, captain),

Ben Norgrove (Armstrong Creek), Lachlan Mulgrew (Armstrong Creek), Ben Robertson (Armstrong Creek), Matt Kennedy (Armstrong Creek), Clay Mulgrew (Armstrong Creek).

Simon Umbers. Picture: Alan Barber

BALLARAT

Akshay Ballal: In the midst of a golden summer with Mount Clear. Has sped past 700 runs, including a spectacular 181 off 156 balls two weeks ago. Has also has taken 34 wickets.

Harry Pierson: Has led the Napoleons Sebastopol bowling attack with distinction ans will look to get the new ball flying.

Squad: Matt Aikman (Ballarat Redan), Fraser Hunt (Brown Hill), Akila Lakshan (Brown Hill), Viraj Pushpakumara (Brown Hill), Sajith Dissanayaka (Darley), Josh Brown (East Ballarat), Harry Ganley (East Ballarat), Rory Low (East Ballarat), Josh Pegg (Golden Point), Akshay Ballal (Mount Clear), Tom Le Lievre (Mount Clear), Harry Pierson (Napoleons Sebastopol), Cole Roscholler (Wendouree), Heath Pyke (Wendouree, captain)

HAMILTON

Shanaka Silva: A match-winning all-rounder who has taken 25 wickets at 8 this season.

Carey Megaw: More than capable with the bat and a consistent wicket taker.

Squad: Hamish Withers (c), Ben Holmes (vc), Paul Procter (vc), Jack Austin, Ben Hanrahan, Jordy Anthony, Shanaka Silva, Tom Roberts, Jak Hotchkiss, Caleb Millard, Jacob Edwards, Carey Megaw, Mitch Arnold.

MARYBOROUGH

Tom Hannett: Showed his class with a clinical 138no for Laanecoorie in December.

Alex Cook: A crack all-rounder who is averaging 8.5 with the ball (18 wickets) this season. Has also smacked two centuries and 395 runs opening the batting.

Squad: Sam Bartlett, Lachlan Oddie, Joel Pymer, Jayden Scotland, Tom Alexander, Dan Romeo, Zac Graham, Alex Cook, Kamaljot Romana, Regan Goundry, Max Jackson, Dean Nalder, Liam Hurse, Tom Hannett, Joe Lovell, Jude Mcguire.

Nic Tindall. Picture: Valeriu Campan

KINGSTON HAWTHORN

Nic Tindall: The 19-year-old is a quality all-rounder who has been in sparkling form for the Hawks in Premier Cricket. A gun fielder, too.

Aditya Chowdhary: The right-handed opener goes into Country Week in good form after a couple of recent half-centuries in the fourths.

Squad: Herbie Fischbacher, Hamish McKenzie, Luke Ajani, Redwan Garcia, Noah McCullough, Lucas Kennedy, Nic Tindall, Aditya Chowdhary, Brad Stow, Shaurya Shukla, Avneet Ghuman, Jack Weintraub, Ishtpreet Kairon, Jamie Moraitis, Cory Cater, Roman Walker, Aidan Sheffield.

WANGARATTA

Cooper Matheson: The Wangaratta opening bat knows his game, deals with the short ball and is coming off a 43-ball 50.

Paddy McNamara: A competitive all-rounder who can be relied on. Hits a long ball.

Squad: Jack Ryan (Beechworth), Matt Ryan (Beechworth), Matt Lister (City Colts), Josh Nanson (City Colts), Tyler Nanson (City Colts), Dylan Bursill (Ovens Valley), Gregor Fraser (Ovens Valley), Cooper Thomason (Ovens Valley), Ryan Collier (Rovers United), Paddy McNamara (Rovers United, captain), Charith Perera (Rovers United), Matt Whitten (Rovers United), Cooper Matheson (Wangaratta), Jimmy Thewlis (Wangaratta).

SUNRAYSIA

Liam Naylor: A hard-hitting batsman and pace bowler who can dominate games. Blazed 113no off 103 balls for Mildura East last month.

Jasper Presswell: The competitive all-rounder is known for scoring quickly and bowling swiftly.

Squad: Adam Thomson, Thanura Rajapaske, Joshua Andrews, Liam Naylor, Jayden Hunt, Jason Morrison, Luke Stanbrook, Shaun Mathews, Riley Jobson, Jasper Presswell, Musa Ilyas, Anthony Morrish.

GISBORNE AND DISTRICT

Marcus Stewart: The right-hander has blasted two centuries this season for Woodend.

Riley Vernon: Plundered over 1000 runs for Gisborne last season and is up to 614 this campaign. His offies will be handy at CW too.

Squad: Matthew Barake, Alex Browne, Chris Burkett, Damien Edwards, Nathan Fower, Louis Moor, Aaron Paterson, Gareth Sharp, Harrison Sheehan, Taylor Stevenson, Marcus Stewart, Xav Tadd, Jarryd Vernon, Riley Vernon, Ben Way, Josh Wills.