Key inclusions for Albany and Districts Cricket Association ahead of senior country week

Albany and Districts Cricket Association captain Jeremy Wood is confident he will take part in this year’s senior country week campaign in Perth despite an ongoing hamstring complaint. Wood injured his hamstring in the Southern Smash and tweaked it again last Saturday in the local A-grade competition. However, he confirmed he will take to the field after receiving good news at physiotherapy appointment on Wednesday. Albany will be out to win their 16th Boan Cup after naming a strong squad ahead of their opening game against Eastern Goldfields on Sunday. Star all-rounders Coen Marwick and Dylan Holt are key inclusions to this year’s side along with new recruit to the association Lincoln Joy, who will play a pivotal role. Experienced batters Alex Fergie and Kieran Howie are also new faces to the 14-man squad. Wood said he was unlikely to bowl but will bat during the week-long tournament. “It feels alright so it’s not too bad,” he said. “Time is not on my side but I will just have to push through. “I’m pretty excited with the squad that we have, but you can’t win country week with teams on paper you have to all go out and do a job. “Coen, Dylan and Lincoln add a lot to our side and are what we need if we are to win I think. “It’s been a bit more cutthroat the last few years and I think you really need to win two out of your first three if you are to make semifinals then you can have a proper crack at it. “The inclusions and the age demographic is vital to our chances. “I think our bowling and fielding is where it will be won and lost. “We have a lot of guys that can tie things up and apply pressure to the opposition.” Albany will be out for revenge after going down to Peel by 50 runs in the grand final last year. Wood was expecting a high-level of competition from rival teams. “We are definitely looking for revenge after last years grand final, we got stitched up,” he said. “A few of us are keen to have another crack and win another title for Albany and Districts. “With no Australian Country Championships I think that’s why you want to win these country weeks. “With the talent on display across the board it would be pretty good to win one of these country weeks. “If you win one of these you can look back at it in a few years time and say we won country week that was played in really good standard.” Wood said Nathan Crudeli, Joy and Ted Batchelor would all play key roles for his side. The A-grade section is split into two divisions with the Whalers facing Bunbury and Districts on Monday and then Upper Great Southern on Wednesday. The semifinals will be played on Thursday and the finals on Friday. Albany will also send a B-section and a D-section team to the carnival. Matt Heberle and Aran Tilbury will be co-captains of the second XI, while the third Albany side will drop back down into D-section after competing in C-section last year. The B-section side face Warren Blackwood, Peel and West Pilbara in their qualifying games before semifinals and finals on Thursday and Friday. The D-section team, captained by Graeme Weinert, come up against Green Range-Ongerup, Bunbury and Districts and West Pilbara before semifinals and finals. ADCA A-section team Jeremy Wood (C), Nathan Crudeli, Seb Stanton, Ted Batchelor, Alex Fergie, Charlie Walters, Kieran Howie, Patrick Butler, Ryan Kinnear, Hayden Davies, Dylan Holt, Coen Marwick, Lincoln Joy, Brendan Crudeli. ADCA B-section team Aran Tilbury (C), Matthew Heberle (C), Aidan Dallimore, Nick Barrow, Ryan Davies, Noah Middleton, Darcy Middleton, Jonte Eastough, Jack Stephens, Steven Williams, Ben Grey, Oswin D’Sylva, Steven Scott. ADCA D-section team Graeme Weinert (C), James Morris, Tom Sutherland, Aldo Lionetti, Jeremy Watson, Rodney Light, John Miell, Robert Stan-Bishop, Darren Grey, Phil Pearce, Hayden Davis, Peter Ross, Craige Anning, Bruce McDonald.