Great Southern Cricket Association send two junior country week teams for the first time

Great Southern Cricket Association will send two teams to the annual junior country week tournament in Perth next week. Great Southern will be represented by an under-16 B-section side and an under-14 B-section squad for the first time, as they vie for silverware in the competition that runs from January 9-13. Both sides will play a mixture of Twenty20 and 40-over matches across the week-long competition. The under-16 B-section will play their first game against Eastern Goldfields on Monday followed by clashes with Esperance, Wellington, Busselton-Margaret River and Upper Great Southern before the finals on Friday. The GSCA only sent one under-14 C-section team last year. President Jack Batchelor said the addition of a second team was a positive indicator for the continued growth of cricket in the region. “It is very pleasing there are two junior sides to represent the GSCA at junior country week in 2023,” he said. “With only two under-17 sides in its inaugural season in the GSCA, it’s a massive effort to send two sides to junior country week. “I think it’s crucial to maximise participation. It gives younger players something to look forward to, especially coming from a small association, like the GSCA. “We have some fantastic local talent in both sides. There are several young players who were unavailable for selection that I would have loved to take up to Perth but the sides we have will still be very competitive in their grades. “I think sending an under-14s side last year will help the under-14s this year as that team has several of the same players who have already had a taste of country week.” Batchelor said he was looking forward to seeing a number of stars shine on the big stage. “I’m particularly looking forward to seeing the likes of Jed Kowald and Jared Ballard in the 16s,” he said. “Jed is an experienced leg spinner with good leadership capabilities and Ballard is a very talented young fast bowler and handy big hitter. “In the 14s, I’m looking forward to seeing young Tom Dennis take another step up after dominating with bat and bowl in the GSCA under-13s and 17s. “I’m also looking forward to seeing Adam Edwards and Xavier McInerney with the ball in hand and I’m anticipating the under-14s especially to do well. That side is stacked with young talent.” The under-14 B-section team will play Northam on Monday, followed by consecutive matches against Busselton-Margaret River on Tuesday. They then face Eastern Goldfields on Wednesday. The semifinals and finals will be played on Thursday and Friday respectively. Batchelor will coach the under-16 squad while Tom McInerney will take the reins of the under-14 team.