Representative cricket returns as the VSDCA takes on Vic Country at Junction Oval
Some of the biggest names in Subbies cricket will take the field together in a representative one-dayer against Vic Country at Junction Oval.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Rep cricket is back in the VSDCA.
Some of the biggest names in Subbies cricket will take the field together on Sunday, December 10, in a representative one-dayer against the Victorian Country Cricket League.
It is the first such match since 2019 and will be played at the Junction Oval.
The select XI will be led by Brighton great Ricky Damiano, while Mt Waverley’s Michael Sheedy is coach.
Reigning premiers Caulfield and Spotswood provide one player each, Ollie Hayes and Dan Schuppan respectively.
Grand finalist Brighton has three players – Damiano, Peter Cassidy and Glen Parker – while Elsternwick (Lincoln Edwards Jnr, Ollie Birts) and Mt Waverley (Kurt Benjamin, Akshay Ballal) each have two.
Rory Collins (St Bernard’s) will keep wicket and open the batting alongside Simon Lambert (Hoppers Crossing), while David Wildsmith (Kew) has also been selected.
Sheedy said the plethora of talent was a selectors nightmare.
“To get it up and running, Richo (team manager Geoff Richardson) has done a bloody good job, and the players response has been outstanding so it was an easy yes when they asked me to take it on,” he said.
“We based the team initially on the Team of the Year, we sussed out who’s still playing in the competition and a couple were unavailable.
“The moment we’ve gone to who was next in line they’ve jumped at the opportunity, so it was a really easy process.
“It was more about getting the right team and balance for a one-day team against a pretty strong country team.
“I know quite a lot of the lads who have come through Premier Cricket or just been local town heroes that they are, it will be a bloody good side and they have a strong culture the country lads.
“Obviously there’s some notably absentees in (Aaron) Ayre, (Aaron) Shellie and (Jacob) Thorne and we haven’t picked import players in this team, we appreciate all the overseas players but we tried to stick to local players.”
VSDCA: FAWAD’S MATCH-WINNING SPELL PUTS MELTON IN A SPIN
LEADER: GET YOUR SUBBIES CRICKET NEWS HERE
WRAP: YATES DOMINATES, ANOTHER KEW HAT-TRICK
The match is the first since 2019-20 when the VCCL knocked off the VSDCA XI at Noble Park.
Now the players get to step onto the hallowed turf of the Junction Oval, which was a major selling point.
“That’s an easy yes when you’re a batter but for the bowlers, I’m sure Shuey (Schuppan) and Ollie (Birts) will have some trepidation,” Sheedy said.
“That’s the main place you want to play cricket, we all know it’s a very good wicket, and we had to pick a team that would suit the ground.”
VSDCA XI v VCCL XI
Sunday, December 10 at Junction Oval.
RICKY DAMIANO (Brighton) (C)
Rick as captain, a stalwart of the competition and one of the best batters for a long period of time. He put his hand up, which I was really pleased about, and he believes in the idea of the concept.
SIMON LAMBERT (Hoppers Crossing)
Lambert gets on with the game, he’s a bloody good batter, he’s aggressive and plays down the line quite well, which will suit the Junction. Handy with his offies and loves the competition.
RORY COLLINS (St Bernard’s) (WK)
Rory will open the batting, he loves to have a crack at the top, and is obviously our wicketkeeper. He’s been really strong in finals cricket, which we based a lot of selection on.
DAVID WILDSMITH (Kew)
Wildsmith has been a very good player for a number of years and has probably gone under the radar.
LINCOLN EDWARDS JR (Elsternwick)
LJ is one of the reasons Elsternwick is on top, a Premier cricketer previously and a very good player.
AKSHAY BALLAL (Mt Waverley)
Akshay has had an amazing start to the season on the back of a consistent year last year and has a couple of hundreds already.
GLEN PARKER (Brighton)
Glenny Parker has had a good year with bat and ball, he’s an all-rounder at No.7.
KURT BENJAMIN (Mt Waverley)
Tim O’Brien, our chairman of selectors, was big on having a hard-hitting all-rounder who offers something different. Kurt is going at 140 strike-rate this year and bowls a heavy ball. That’s a smokey to be honest.
OLLIE BIRTS (Elsternwick)
Birts is another reason why Elsternwick is on top with 16 wickets, second most in the comp.
DAN SCHUPPAN (Spotswood)
Schuppan is the premiership-winning coach at Spotty and is among the leading wicket-takers again.
PETER CASSIDY (Brighton)
Cassidy is an experienced campaigner who just takes wickets for fun.
OLLIE HAYES (Caulfield)
Ollie Hayes had a great year last year and took five in the grand final.
Mirboo North Football Netball Club ready for presentation night
The Mirboo North Football Netball Club Tigers are preparing for a night full of excitement and joy at this year’s presentation night. Check back to see the full picture gallery.
Every in and out across Victorian Premier Cricket
From interstate stars to seasoned veterans, pen is hitting paper everywhere across Victorian Premier Cricket. Keep up to date with each move through our signing tracker.