Ireland star Jacob Mulder snapped up as first pick in Southern Smash draft by Elders Avengers

Former Ireland international Jacob Mulder has been snapped up as the No.1 pick for next month’s Southern Smash, taken by Elders Avengers in the draft on Monday night. The Southern Smash Twenty20 draft for this year’s tournament was held at Inswing Sports Bar on Monday, and Elders grabbed the former Ireland international with the prized first selection. A total of 104 players nominated for regional WA’s premier T20 competition, and 42 of those players were selected across the six franchises — Inswing Ignition, Camtrans Bulldogs, Retravision Warriors, Arc Infrastructure Aces, Albany Finance Fury, and Elders Avengers. Mulder, who played eight international T20 games and four one-day games before moving back to Australia, headlines a strong first round of draft picks. The Fury had pick No.2 and drafted hard-hitting opening batter Garrick Morgan. Halls Head batter Josh Rudge went to the Aces at No.3 and he was followed by Willeton all-rounder Oliver Arkinstall, who was snared by the Warriors. The first round of picks was rounded out by spinner Ben Payne going to the Bulldogs and all-rounder Brayden Clarke, who was taken by reigning champions Ignition with their first selection at six. Four players, including the captains, were already signed with each team ahead of draft night under competition rules. The Avengers gained the services of young gun Cooper Connolly and Bryce Jackson before the draft, while the Bulldogs took Rockingham Mandurah stars Teague Wyllie and Corey Wasley. Former Perth Scorcher Jaron Morgan went to the Aces ahead of the draft. A total of 18 Albany and Districts Cricket Association players will play in the two-day tournament. Collingwood Park quick Ben Grey was the first ADCA player selected at pick No.13 by the Fury. Top local cricketers Nathan Crudeli (Warriors), Coen Marwick (Bulldogs), Nathan Dovey (Avengers) and Josh Dallimore (Fury) will captain their teams, while former local Tim Hutchinson is the Aces’ skipper, and Dan Rees has taken over the reigning champions Inswing Ignition. Six Great Southern Cricket Association cricketers found their way on to a playing list: Guy Taylor (Ignition), Kyle Sinclair (Fury), Ethan Caldwell (Avengers), Jack Taylor (Aces), Keegan Berry (Warriors), and Ricky Marris (Bulldogs). Some of the other big names to be drafted were Nathan Hutchinson, Brent Jarvis-Spinks, Tim Hale, former local Jack Dawson, Jacob Wintle, Lincoln Joy, Troyden Thorpe and Manuel Hunwick. Each team was allowed to pick a maximum of three marquee players, a minimum of three Albany players, and one GSCA player.