By Nick Creely
Cricket Victoria has announced its Female under 16 Vic Metro and Country squad, as well as its Male under 17 Metro, Country and under 16 Cricket Victoria squads ahead of the Western and Northern Summer Series set to kick off in January in Dunkeld, Hamilton and Albury.
All male teams will compete in a mixture of Twenty20 and 50 over matches in Western Victoria , with games to be live-streamed and scores available through MyCricket.
Tom Evans (coach) and Karl Mayne (assistant coach) will lead the Vic Metro team while Shane Koop (coach) and Tony Caccaviello (assistant coach) will take charge of the Vic Country team. The Cricket Victoria XI will be led by Dean Russ (coach) and Adrian Mott (assistant coach).
A host of emerging local cricketers have been selected for the representative carnival, with a strong contingent of Dandenong District Cricket Association and Gippsland products set to take part.
In the male squads, Harkirat Bajwa (Narre South and Dandenong) and Jaxon Binns (Berwick) will play for The Cricket Victoria Under 16 side, while Raheel Bostan (Narre South and Dandenong), Chris Diston (Hallora and Casey-South Melbourne), Ethan Lamers (Outtrim Moyarra and Casey-South Melbourne) and Nick Pastras (Berwick and Melbourne) have been picked for the Under 17 Vic Country team.
“Representative matches are an important part of a player’s development and we’re delighted to continue to provide this opportunity,” Russ said.
“We congratulate the players on their commitment to the program so far and we look forward to seeing their performances in the Western Summer Series.”
Victoria’s best emerging female cricketers will also compete in a carnival in January up at Albury, with a series of matches from 18 and 21 January.
The teams will compete in a mixture of Twenty20 and 40 over cricket, with one game confirmed to be under lights at Lavington Sports Ground.
The Vic Metro squad will be coached by Anna O’Donnell with Duncan Harrison her assistant coach while Nicole Martin will lead the Vic Country squad with Guy McKenna in support.
Locally, emerging Dandenong star Uvindee Wijesena will play for the Under 16 Vic Metro side, while fellow Panthers Yashonda Senerathne, Poppy Gardner, and Kethmi Ekenayke will form part of a strong Vic Country squad.
“It’s fantastic to be able to provide players with representative opportunities despite the challenges faced this year,” Harrison said.
“We’re excited by the depth of talent within the state and we’ve been impressed with the way the players have embraced the program to date and the opportunity to play representative cricket will further benefit their development.”
To check out the full male and female squads, head to cricketvictoria.com.au
