Revealed: Who is set to play a key role at Melbourne Country Week
There’s set to be no shortage of talent at Melbourne Country Week starting today. Here are the top talents to keep an eye on.
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The stars of regional cricket will descend on Melbourne Country Week from Monday.
From a former Big Bash League star to the local heroes who have a cult following at home, there are the top players to keep an eye on in Melbourne.
BAIRNSDALE
Brodie Anderson
The West Bairnsdale all-rounder is one of the stars of the local competition and will enter Country Week in strong form.
Francois Mostert
Usually bats at first drop for his club side, Meerlieu, and should bat around the same position during Country Week. Is also more than handy with the ball, after taking six wickets in his last match.
Max Welsh
The Orbost skipper was in fine form with the bat in his last outing with 86 runs. Has two-half centuries to his name this season.
BALLARAT
Harry Ganley
One of the best batters in the competition this year in Ballarat, scoring more than 400 runs at an average of more than 50. Impressively, he’s making his runs at better than a run a ball. Sure to be a threat against other teams if he gets going with the bat.
Tom Le Lievre
A player in good form for his club Mount Clear. Le Lievre has made more than 30 runs in six of his past innings. The two scores before 30 were ducks. Has scored more than 300 runs in Ballarat at an average of more than 47.
Ash McCafferty
A stalwart for Ballarat at Country Week. The fast bowler has taken 16 wickets in eight games so far this season. This included a 5/19 in one game.
Nathan Patrikeos
The Ballarat Redan bowler has taken 15 wickets so far in 10 matches and is rated by the Ballarat Cricket Association as one of the best this season. He best figures have been 3-38.
BENDIGO DISTRICT
Brayden Stepien
One of the big names at the tournament. The former BBL batsman has produced strong performances already this season, most notably for Vic Country at the National Country Championships.
Grant Waldron
Set to captain the Bendigo side after a wonderful season to date at club level for Strathdale-Maristians. He’s already hit over 400 runs at 51.48.
BELLARINE PENINSULA
Jordy Graham
A standout paceman in the BPCA’S A1 competition for Jan Juc, Graham will again lead the charge with the new ball. Graham has been exceptional for the Sharks so far this season, snaring 28 scalps at an average of 13.14 in just 10 matches to be more than a handful for the league’s best batters. The right-armer’s hauls include two five-wicket performance, the latest coming against powerhouse club Anglesea on Saturday when he finished with 5-70. Graham will cause plenty of headaches at country week.
Dylan Taylor
Taylor from one end, Jordy Graham from the other. What a mouth-watering new-ball prospect that promises to be. The Anglesea star has been taking bags of wickets this season and is likely to stand the ball rolling for the BPCA in a new country week campaign. The former paceman at GCA1 club Grovedale, Taylor has been at his consistent best for the Roos this season, taking 21 wickets at an average of 10.62. He has managed to grab a wicket in all seven innings, snaring no less than two scalps in each outing.
Nick Hyden
In a team dominated by Jan Juc and Anglesea players, Hyden will be the key weapon in the BPCA’s batting order. A formidable presence, both in stature and ball-striking ability, Hyden looms as his side’s biggest weapon. A constant at No. 3 for Jan Juc this season, the former hard-hitting Grovedale batsman has struck 314 runs at 52.33 to lead his side strongly as captain. Hyden will again feature prominently in this team, likely to be at three or four.
Brad Greenwood
The maiden over king from Barrabool will test his credentials against some quality batting line-ups at country week. And with the likes to Jordy Graham, Dylan Taylor and Nicky Smithy to work in partnership with, Greenwood should relish the chance to take bulk wickets. The former leading of the attack at GCA2 club Marshall, Greenwood is renowned for his miserly bowling performances. So far this season he has bowled 36 maidens from 121 overs, and he promises to tie down plenty of batsmen in this country week carnival.
FERNTREE GULLY
Cameron Wheeler
Has 16 wickets for the season at an average of 12.63 and should prove to be more than a handful for opposition batters.
Nathan Walsh
The Lysterfield star has been in brilliant form with the bat this season scoring 470 runs at 78.33 including six half-centuries.
GEELONG
Sam Hall
Without doubt the most damaging player of the past 18 months at GCA1 level for North Geelong, Hall looms as the GCA’s kingpin. A destructive opener, as demonstrated by his blistering back-to-back hundreds in last year’s premiership campaign for the Magpies — 154 from 153 in the semi-final win over South Barwon and 104 from 59 in the grand final against East Belmont — the 300-game veteran can take a game away from an opposition in a matter of overs. Hall’s likely pairing with East Belmont’s Sean O’Neill at the top of the order is a scary prospect for any rival.
Alistair McCann
When it comes to all-rounders, there’s few better in GCA1 than North Geelong’s Alistair McCann. A versatile left-hand bat and left-arm finger spinner, McCann is worth his weight in gold for the Magpies. The towering star continues to deliver in a variety of roles with the bat, a trait punctuated by his match winning knock of 80 at No. 7 in round 9 when his side had succumbed to 5-24 against Grovedale. While crunching 236 runs at an average of 39.33, McCann has also 16 wickets to prove his all-round ability.
George Rhodes
Wow, what a debut season in Geelong at Newtown & Chilwell. The English import has wasted no time stamping his authority on the GCA1 competition, crunching 412 at 45.78 in 10 matches for the Two Blues. While his form has tailed off in recent matches, returning scores of 1, 3, 6, 35 and 7, Rhodes was red-hot for Newtown early, notching back-to-back hundreds and an 86. His bowling has also been more than handy, producing 18 wickets at 15.22, including 4-8 in a recent T20 Cup clash against Thomson.
Ryan Gibson
In the headlines for all the wrong reasons this season, no-one can deny the talent at Ryan Gibson’s disposal. A fearsome and intimidating quick from South Barwon, Gibson is also an attacking batsman who has a proven track record of taking the game away from the opposition in a matter of overs. Gibson’s anger has got the better of him at times this season, with the Englishman suspended for umpire dissent as well as making physical contact with another player, but his ability with bat and ball cannot be questioned. In limited matches this season, Gibson has snared seven wickets, including a five-wicket-haul, and made a match winning 53 against Grovedale.
HAMILTON DISTRICT
Simon Close
The leading runscorer in the competition this season with 543 runs from nine innings, including one century. Close has an average of 60 in the competition and has averaged more than 45 in the past two season prior to this season.
Harrison Wood
The standout bowler in the competition so far this season. Wood has taken 26 wickets, eight more than the next bowler, at an average of just under 12. His best figures have been 5/53.
Simon Sharrock
The batting all-rounder has averaged more than 40 with the bat this season and has made more than 240 runs. With the ball, he has taken eight wickets to be one of the leading players in the competition.
LATROBE VALLEY
Rhys Holdsworth
The leading run scorer in the competition this year and has made more than 150 runs more than the next best batter. He’s scored more than 600 runs at an average of more than 70. Will be a key batter for the side.
John Keighran
One of only two batsmen in the competition to average more than 60 this season in La Trobe Valley. Keighran has made more than 440 runs this season.
Joseph Stuart
The leading wicket taker in the competition with 28 and an incredible average of just over 7. Has taken one seven wicket haul as well this season.
LEONGATHA AND DISTRICT
Harry Hoekstra
Has been fantastic all season with 14 wickets at an average of just over 15.
Mitchell Clark
The experienced star has been brilliant for Nerrena this season with 571 runs at 71.38 including two centuries.
MORNINGTON PENINSULA
Justin Grant
The all-rounder played a first-class game for Victorian XI against England Lions, including Ben Stokes and James Vince.
Rhys Elmi
Heads to his first carnival after churning out more than 7000 runs for Baden Powell in the past 15 years.
Sam Gove
At 16 years and 10 months, will be the second youngest player in history to represent Mornington Peninsula at Country Week. And look for him to excel; he’s scored two centuries and a 93 for his club this season.
Yohan Maddege
A quality leg-spinner who was called into the Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash squad last month.
PORTLAND
Nick Wills
The leading run scorer with just over 280 runs in nine games so far. In a tough season for the batsmen in the competition, he’s stood out so far.
Will Hardie
Has the best average in the competition with the bat this season with more than 53. This includes two half centuries and more than 260 runs.
Luke Evans
The captain leads the wicket takers in the competition, taking 16 wickets in eight matches this season. He averages just under nine with the ball and took 6/18 in one game. Sure to lead from the front for the team in Country Week.
SALE-MAFFRA
Adrian Burgiel
Twenty years after playing in Sale Maffra’s Provincial premiership, he’s back at Country Week. While he’s not as prolific as he once was, he tends to get going when the big games are on. The sort of batsman who marks centre and then starts teeing off. Match winner.
Jack Tatterson
The Victorian Country XI left-arm orthodox spinner will be relied on to bowl economically and take wickets.
Steven Spoljaric
The Ryder Medal winner goes to Country Week in good form after peeling off an unbeaten century for Bundalaguah last week. He has 515 runs, at 64, this season. Will bat at No. 4 for the Country Week side.
Tom Morrison
The young all-rounder has played a lot of rep cricket and seems to score runs wherever he goes. Will bat in the top three, and go hard early. Also bowls very good seamers.
SOUTH WEST
Simon Harkness
The skipper has proven ability to score runs at the top of the order. Has eight centuries at club level in the last decade.
Tharaka Sendanayake
A match winner with bat and ball. Smashed a century from No. 7 for his club recently. And bowls hard-to-pick spin.
Tharindu Rukshan
The stylish left hander will look to get the side off to a strong start and will be good for 10 overs of spin.
SUNRASYIA
Jayden Hunt
A former Vic Country representative who has been in fine form at club level this season. Pace bowler who should cause plenty of headaches.
Leigh Thomson-Mathews
An aggressive opening batsman with the ability to turn a game on its head.
TRARALGON AND DISTRICT
Keenan Hughes
The talented all-rounder has been brilliant since early December for Toongabbie at club level with multiple wickets in five straight matches. He’s taken 19 wickets at an average of 10.6.
Ewan Williams
The Rovers gun is his local competition’s leading run scorer this season with 379 runs including four half-centuries. He’s also a damaging bowler with 18 wickets at club level.
WANGARATTA AND DISTRICT
Brady Bartlett
A young right arm fast opening bowler who has excelled at club level this season.
Koot Pieneer
The South African import has impressed with his explosive traits at the top of the order at club level this season.
Prav Menon
A former Premier Cricket all-rounder for Prahran who continues to excel in the field.
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