Victorian Turf, Dandenong District clash for cross-town bragging rights
Two of Melbourne’s biggest community cricket competitions will go head-to-head for cross-town bragging rights. See the rep XIs here.
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Two of Melbourne’s biggest community cricket competition’s will clash on Sunday for cross-town bragging rights.
The Victorian Turf Cricket Association and Dandenong District Cricket Association will play a one-day representative match in Hallam, which is hoped to become an annual fixture.
The VTCA has assembled a strong 12-man squad, including two international talents and several former Premier Cricket stars.
West Indies Test quick Miguel Cummins and fellow Barbadian Roshon Primus bring plenty of experience, while eight players have played at Premier Cricket level.
Yarraville Club captain-coach and VTCA skipper Mitch Johnstone was looking forward to playing alongside some of his weekend rivals.
“I’d rather play with Miguel Cummins than against him and Tallan Wright too, he and I have had some battles over the years,” he said.
“Often these guys are competing against each other on a Saturday afternoon and it can get pretty willing but playing in the same squad is a great opportunity.
“I haven’t played with Chet (Arjun) since I was 15 years old at Keilor, so that’s going back to the future a bit.
“There’s a couple of guys I’ve coached in under-18s as well – Clayton Campbell, Patty Willach and Donovan Pell – so that’s gone full circle which is cool.
Westmeadows’ Campbell (378) is the second leading run-scorer in Senior Division this season, while Willach (424) is currently ranked fourth in Division 1.
Keilor spinner Matthew Gaskett (25) is second for wickets with teammate and last season’s leading wicket-taker Cummins (21) fourth and Johnstone (20) fifth.
Unavailability saw the likes of competition heavyweights Trent Lawford, Kaushal and Daniel Salpietro miss out but Johnstone is still confident his team has more than enough quality.
“It’s a great initiative, an opportunity for the competition to showcase the depth of quality we’ve got,” he said.
“The team we’ll put on the park will be highly competitive and while we know it will be an exhibition game, we want to win.
“Guys like Chet has been a stalwart of his club and the competition, so it’s recognition for his service, and I’m looking forward to seeing Cummins, Johnson and Primus bowl some wheels.
“Going forward we’d like to have an under-21 game and be a little bit more representative of all divisions but we’re getting this thing off the ground.”
The Dandenong District side will be captained by reigning Alan Wookey Medallist Jordan Hammond, who will know the Hallam Recreation Reserve conditions well considering it’s his home track.
Hammond will be assisted by in-form batter Ryan Quirk (vice-captain), who has crunched an imperious 442 runs at an average of 73 this summer for Turf 1 club Springvale South.
While the 12-man squad is deep with Turf 1 talent, three Turf 2 players have been rewarded for superb seasons to date.
Beaconsfield’s Tyler Clark, one of the aforementioned three from the second division, has earned a call-up for his incredible season to date that has grossed 628 runs at an average of 57 with no score below 22.
The DDCA representatives will be comfortable playing the shorter format, as their season was swiftly changed back to one-day cricket after tempestuous weather derailed the opening month of cricket.
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VTCA v DDCA
Hallam Recreation Reserve at 11am, Sunday, February 12.
VICTORIAN TURF CRICKET ASSOCIATION
Clayton Campbell (Westmeadows)
Tallan Wright (Aberfeldie)
Roshon Primus (Deer Park)
Patrick Willach (Doutta Stars)
Hamza Ali (Sunshine United)
Mitch Johnstone (Yarraville Club) (C)
Chetan Arjun (Keilor)
Nathan Johnson (Druids)
Matthew Gaskett (Keilor)
Miguel Cummins (Keilor)
Donovan Pell (Westmeadows)
James Leach (Deer Park)
Anthony Barton (Aberfeldie)
Coach: Mick Andreatis (Deer Park)
DANDENONG DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION
Jordan Hammond (Hallam Kalora Park) (C)
Ryan Quirk (Springvale South)
Cameron Forsyth (Springvale South)
Jarryd Straker (Springvale South)
Callan Tout (Beaconsfield)
Triyan De Silva (HSD)
Tyler Clark (Beaconsfield)
Jordan Cleland (Berwick)
Jordan Wyatt (Springvale South)
Deeshan Vimukthi (St Mary’s)
Jonty Jenner (Narre South)
Blade Baxter (Springvale South)
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