Captaincy honours for Wood on national tour

Mt Barker all-rounder Jeremy Wood will for the first time lead the WA Country XI, after being named captain of the touring men’s team for the Australian Country Cricket Championships to be played in Toowoomba next month.

The Advertiser can reveal three current Albany and District Cricket Association players have been selected in the 14-man squad that will head to Queensland attempting to win back-to-back titles for the first time in WA’s history.

Wood, pictured, and Railways spearhead Nathan Crudeli will both be on their fourth tours, while Tigers all-rounder Coen Marwick will make his WA debut.

Albany will also have representation in the WA Country XI women’s team, with former Mt Barker resident Georgie Middleton and Albany product Hannah Felton both selected.

The WA men’s side claimed both the one-day and overall titles in Shepparton earlier this year, under the guidance of Albany’s Tim Edmunds.

The WA Country XI squad that will compete at the championships from January 3-11 will have seven fresh faces and also include a new leadership group following the withdrawals of Tim Hutchison and Tom Buchanan, while Zane Marwick is now living in Perth.

Wood will take the reins from Hutchison, and Edmunds said he was the perfect person to lead a very motivated group of players.

“The recipe is similar to last year — it looks an inexperienced team, but we think the players selected tick all the boxes required for success,” Edmunds said.

“Woody was a unanimous choice by the selectors.

“He epitomises how we play and what we stand for as a group and demonstrated those leadership qualities last tour.”

Crudeli has been picked alongside other brother and Albany product Julian, with the pair set to lead the WA bowling attack.

Edmunds said Coen Marwick was a “proven” country performer who had a key role to play.

“He is the Barry Shepherd medallist and hasn’t missed a Country Cup game in two years,” Edmunds said.

“He showed what he can do the Statewide T20 finals, he can play a really good role with the ball in one-day and T20 games and as a hard hitting batsman can bat in multiple positions as well.”

Aaron Burrage and Julian Crudeli have been named vice-captains, while ex-Mt Barker quick and now-Bunbury player Jacob Wintle has also earned selection.

WA Country XI men’s touring squad: Jeremy Wood (C), Aaron Burrage (VC), Julian Crudeli (VC), Callum How, Bevan Bennell, Nathan Crudeli, Damien Burrage, Aaron McAuliffe, Daniel Abel, Michael Tassone, Jacob Wintle, Coen Marwick, Brayden Clarke, Cruize Ciallella.