Named: Wilson, Grant, Maddege, Gove, Prosser, Elmi among MPCA Country Week team
Seven debutants, including a 16-year-old batting prodigy, feature in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association’s Country Week side, named after a marathon selection meeting.
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Selectors debated for more than two hours on Wednesday night before settling on the Mornington Peninsula Country Week final squad of 13.
“It’s probably the hardest selection we’ve done since I’ve taken over,” MPCA captain Bobby Wilson, who has led the side since 2017, said.
“Just because of the quality of blokes that have missed out.
“Pat Jackson has missed out, James La Brooy has missed out.
“We’ve probably got good depth so we’ve had to pick a balanced side, if you know what I mean.”
Mornington Peninsula will take a talented albeit inexperienced side to the annual Country Week carnival, which starts on February 13.
The squad of 13 includes seven debutants, including 16-year-old Flinders batting star Sam Gove, who has scored two centuries this season.
The other Country Week first-timers are Rhys Elmi, Yohan Maddege, Cameron Moon, Aiden McKenna, Daniel Kelly and Sam Holland-Burch.
Elmi heads to his first carnival after churning out more than 7000 runs for Baden Powell in the past 15 years.
Wilson said McKenna, from Long Island, would be the side’s wicketkeeper and may also open the batting.
“We’re a little bit thin in opening bats so he could potentially fill that role,” he said.
Long Island left-arm paceman Kelly and Mornington tall fast bowler Moon would head up the bowling attack.
“In the trial game Kelly got two or three for and swung the Dukes ball really well,” Wilson said.
“So we thought having that left-arm option who swings it could be a good asset.
“Cam Moon, he’s having a great season, and he will probably be our strike bowler.”
Wilson said Tyabb all rounder Holland-Burch earned his spot with strong form at club level and in a trial game.
“He took five for in the trial game and made 30 odd not out, he just looks like he will give a hundred percent effort the whole week,” he said.
Wilson, Justin Grant and Matt Prosser will be the side’s experienced and senior members.
The side will have two leg spinners: Prosser and Baxter’s Yohan Maddege, who was called up by the Hobart Hurricanes as a Big Bash back-up player last week.
The Mornington Peninsula Country Week final 13:
Bobby Wilson (C) - Sorrento
Justin Grant (VC) - Old Peninsula
Rhys Elmi - Baden Powell
Yohan Maddege - Baxter
Kierran Voelkl - Dromana
Sam Gove - Flinders
Matt Prosser - Langwarrin
Aiden McKenna - Long Island
Daniel Kelly - Long Island
Cameron Moon - Mornington
Harley Peace-Stirling - Pines
Patrick Nagel - Rosebud
Sam Holland-Burch - Tyabb
Emergencies
James La Brooy - Old Peninsula
Patrick Jackson - Pines
Kane Donald - Rosebud
Liam Collett - Rosebud
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