ADCA captain Coen Marwick optimistic ahead of senior country week despite key omissions

New Albany and Districts Cricket Association captain Coen Marwick is confident this year’s senior country week side can find success despite the absence of some key players. The Whalers will be out to right the wrongs of last year’s shock A-section semifinal loss to Peel as they begin their quest for a 16th title in Perth on Sunday. Albany and Districts won the 2019 Boan Cup defeating Upper Great Southern at the WACA before finishing sixth in 2020 and then bouncing out of the 2022 tournament in disappointing fashion. The Whalers will be stung by two key omissions this year with Mt Barker pair Nathan Crudeli and Jeremy Wood unavailable due to Australian Country Cricket Championships commitments. Despite their absence, the Whalers will field a strong team that includes international trio Myles Holland, James Bottomley and Oliver Davidson. “I’m really happy with the group we put together, we have really good bowling depth and we bat all the way down as well,” Marwick said. “I think just about everyone bats top five at their club so I think we can put together a pretty good effort still. “It will be good to play with two of the English guys and Ollie the Scot, and I guess it’s always good to get out there and play with all the other good cricketers from down here.” Marwick, who has been in excellent form at club level, will captain the side for the first time and said he’s looking forward to the experience of leading his players out. “I’m really excited for the opportunity, it’s a bit of an honour so I’m proud and grateful for being given the opportunity from the association,” he said. “It’s a long week so you look for contributions from everyone, it’s a lot to ask one bloke to carry the load. “In saying that, you look at past winners and even when we’ve won, sometimes one guy does sort of have a big week so it will probably be on one of the top five guys that will have a big week with the bat. “It’s obviously a little bit interesting this year with Country XI at the same time — everyone is a little bit affected by that. “I think Geraldton are probably the least affected by it, they are probably going to be pretty strong and they’re in our pool. “Bunbury are always really good, they have heaps of numbers out there so we’re looking forward to strong competition.” Lincoln Joy and Seb Stanton will shoulder a big load with the bat for the Whalers top team and their side will also contain teenagers Ryley and Teague Valli, and Mohit Jaggi. Experienced South Australian Alex Garlick and Scottish international Davidson will play key allrounder roles. The A-section competition is split into two pools with Albany and Districts facing Eastern Goldfields in their first game on Sunday before clashing with Bunbury and Districts on Monday and then Geraldton on Wednesday. The semfinals will be contested on Thursday and then the finals will be played on Friday. The Whalers will also send a B-section and C-section team to the week-long tournament. A-section squad Coen Marwick (Captain) Ryan Kinnear Seb Stanton Alex Garlick Ollie Davidson Lincoln Joy Myles Holland Ben Grey James Bottomley Mohit Jaggi Ryley Valli Teague Valli B-section squad Jed Schwarzbach Aran Tilbury Steven Scott Jason Jones Hayden Davies Cameron Newbold (C) Ryan Tindale Lachie Tindale Angus Thompson Shane Manser Craig Anning C-section squad Darren Grey Riley Wood Gary McGlade Graeme Wienert (C) John Miell Aldo Lionetti James Morris Ashley Hornby Blair Hutton Andre Sutherland Rob Stan-Bishop Phil Pearce Rodney Light