Albany and Districts quartet to mix with WA’s best underage talents in opening WA Country Colts fixture

Four rising cricketers from the region will get the chance to showcase their skills against some of WA’s best underage talents in the first fixture of the WA Country Colts in Perth on Sunday. Royals’ Ted Batchelor, Ryley Valli and Angus Thompson along with Manypeaks’ Seb Stanton will play two exhibition matches at Murdoch University playing fields. Peaks’ Charlie Walters was also selected to play but is unable to attend due to school commitments. Batchelor has been appointed captain of the Country Black side which will also feature Valli and Thompson while Stanton will play for Country Yellow. The two country sides will play a WA Indigenous XI and the WA deaf team. “To be selected as one of the captains for these Country Colts fixtures will be a great experience,” Batchelor said. “Working with new players from around country WA to play a good standard of cricket, execute a plan with their skills and get some reward for effort will be exciting. “Each player has had similar cricketing experiences, being exposed to seniors at a young age and being from the country. “The WA Indigenous team and WA Inclusions XI are always quality outfits, and the colts should put up a good battle with them to produce some good games of cricket. “There’s a great Albany representation in the squads, so I’m hoping they all play to their best to put in a good case for the Country Colts selection later in the year. “Valli is a superstar in our competition with bat and ball, Walters and Stanton both play pivotal roles at Manypeaks and Thompson shows real promise with his craft. “They are all well suited to perform at this level.” Batchelor is likely to bat high up the order while Valli could play a part with ball and bat and Thompson will be a key part of the bowling line-up Stanton could potentially keep and bat for the Yellow team. WACA Great Southern manager Darcy Middleton said it was a great opportunity for the players. “It’s great to see such a strong Great Southern representation in the Country Colts,” he said. “All five players are very deserving of their selection and have shown that in their A-Grade and junior performances over the last couple of years. “It goes to show that performances in competitions at home are recognised across the State and I have no doubt the four Great Southern players will prove themselves against very strong WA Blind and WA Indigenous teams.” WA COUNTRY BLACK Ted Batchelor (C), Declan Boston, Jake Bennett, Kade Gillingham, Callum Marquis, Sam Allen, Cody Ryan, Ryley Valli, Angus Thompson, Mason Sear, Ethan Johnson. WA COUNTRY YELLOW Tyler King (C), Seb Stanton, Brian Hughes, Darcy Ingle, Nico Le Roux, Jake Mitchell, Bobby Gibson, Cooper Dehring, Bryn Bursill, Kodi Giltrow, Jaxon Gordon, Issac Evans.