SW cricket guns get Country call up

Four Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association players have been selected in a powerful 13-man WA Country squad to contest the Australian Championships in Queensland next month.

Capel’s Tim Hutcheson, Colts’ captain Matt Foreman, Eaton’s Clint Hewson and Marist’s Corey Fitt have all been named in the squad to play at Bundaberg from January 3.

David Macleay, from Busselton, has also been selected. Chairman of selectors Shane Robbins and his team of Chris Waddingham, Craig Tonkin and Bruce Gillingham have selected what they call a solid touring squad for the carnival, with Williams’ ACCC All Star from last season Rod Ford as captain and Garth Nottle his deputy.

All star batsmen Mitch Green and Ford will be looked at to be the key runmakers if the team hopes to repeat its heroics from two years ago when WA won the title in Bunbury.

Selector Robbins believes this season’s squad is stronger than the one which finished fifth at Geelong last year.

“We will be hoping for strong runs from the top order of Nottle, Green and Tim Hutcheson, backed by young guns Liam Thomas and David Macleay, with all-rounders Ford, Clint Hewson and Shayne Bidwell in a solid middle order for depth,” he said, adding he felt the WA squad would be competitive this season given its top order batting depth.

He cited bowling depth as a bonus to this season’s team, with the Mid West’s fast medium right-arm bowler Bidwell, who narrowly missed All-Australian selection last year, leading the way with Bryce Jeffrey and Matt Jenkinson providing good support.

Leg spinners Fitt, Macleay and Thomas, along with off-spinners Hutcheson and Foreman offer plenty of options in attack as well.

WA will start its campaign on January 3 with a two-day match against South Australia in a favourable draw as a result of finishing fifth last year, with the top four teams from last year in Twenty20 games and the bottom three in two-day games.