With a powerhouse squad and home ground advantage on its side as well, Western Zone coach Trent Hemsworth says there’s every reason for optimism leading into the 2017-18 Bradman Cup carnival next month.
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Bathurst will host this year’s new-look Country Cricket NSW under-16 country championship, from January 15 to 18, which will feature semi-finals and a decider rather than the previously favoured first-past-the-post format.
Western named its squad for the Country Cricket NSW under-16 country championship last week, with Australian ace Brock Larance, from Dubbo, headlining the 13-strong group, which Hemsworth compared to last year’s “cracking” side that finished fourth.
“Western Zone always has really strong under-16 sides, last year’s was a cracking team and I’m really happy with the side the selectors have put together this season,” Hemsworth said.
“You always need a bit of luck in these carnivals (and) with the new format the team that wins will really earn it, but I think with the side we’ve got and the home ground advantage we’ll be a good shot.”
Larance is joined by four other Dubbo stars in Ben Wheeler, Connor Watts, Jake Setree and Mitch Ashford, along with Bathurst trio Sam Hall, Ben Mitchell and Bailey Brien.
Blake Weymouth is Orange’s lone representative, while Lachlan Endacott (Mudgee), Darcy Leadbitter (Forbes), Tanvir Singh (Lithgow) and Ryan Dunn (Parkes) round out the squad, which will face reigning champions Riverina, ACT-Southern and Illawarra in the southern pool.
Hemsworth pointed to Larance, Ashford, Singh and Mitchell – all of whom played last season – as four guys he expects to stand up, also saying Weymouth has a key role to play.
“The guys that were there last year, they’ve got that experience now,” he said.
“Obviously Brock is a big one. He’s just killing it at every level he plays, from his club cricket right up to the national level and did well with (Western’s) colts (this week).
“Blake is playing good cricket this season, he’s matured and he’s really added some strength and speed to the way he plays.
“Even though he’s under-age, under 15s, we’ll look to him to anchor in around the other top five or six batsmen and really provide some stability, that’s his role.”
Western has been handed a real litmus test first up in the defending champions, on Monday, January 15
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
