Strong talent named in WA Country XI men and women’s teams ahead of national championships in Newcastle

The WA Country Cricket Board have announced their men’s and women’s teams to compete at next month’s Australian Country Cricket Championships in Newcastle. The men’s team are aiming to go one better at the championships, after finishing second earlier this year in the tournament in Canberra, while the women’s side had only one win during their 2023 campaign. Tim Hutchison has been named captain of the men’s team with Nathan Crudeli his deputy. Hutchison is playing in the Bunbury and Districts competition but has previously spent time playing in the Albany and Districts and Peel regions while Nathan Crudeli hails from the Albany and Districts. The women’s side will be led by Laura Croft, a product of Gippsland in Victoria, and her deputies will be Bunbury and Districts’ Emily Allen and Geraldton’s Jo Walker. Former WA first-class cricketer Shawn Gillies has taken the reins as men’s coach and Chris Secker will coach the women’s team. The men’s team will have five debutants, including ex-Willetton player Lincoln Joy. Albany and Districts star Joy will be joined by first-time touring players all-rounder Clayton Bruce-Cherry (Geraldton), keeper and son-of-a-gun Cooper Clarke-Dehring (Bunbury and Districts), left-arm quick Gerard McKenna (Geraldton) and opening batter Hayden Slodecki (Bunbury and Districts). Bunbury and Districts have five players named in the men’s side while four hail from Albany and Districts. Along with Mt Barker’s Nathan Crudeli and Royals’ Joy, Mt Barker all-rounder Jeremy Wood was again selected and returning Railways player Julian Crudeli also made the 13-man team. The Crudeli brothers and spinner Cruize Ciallella earned All-Australian honours at the country championships this year and that trio will again play a big part in their hopes of title success. Five members of the women’s team are from Bunbury and Districts and another five come from Geraldton. Croft hails from country Victoria but is playing for Subiaco-Floreat in the WA Premier Cricket women’s competition. She has played for the WA Country XI in lead-up games and under rules is eligible to play in the championships, adding valuable experience to a young group. The championships, to be held from January 3-9, will return to their traditional format, consisting of both one-day and Twenty20 matches. WA Country XI Teams Men Daniel Abel (Peel) Bevan Bennell (Eastern Goldfields) Clayton Bruce-Cherry (Geraldton) Cruize Ciallella (Bunbury and Districts) Cooper Clarke-Dehring (Bunbury and Districts) Nathan Crudeli (Albany and Districts) – Vice-Captain Julian Crudeli (Albany and Districts) Adam France (Bunbury and Districts) Tim Hutchison (Bunbury and Districts) - Captain Lincoln Joy (Albany and Districts) Gerard McKenna (Geraldton) Hayden Slodecki (Bunbury and Districts) Jeremy Wood (Albany and Districts) Coach: Shawn Gillies Assistant coach: Shayne Bidwell Trainer: Chelsea Bidwell Women Emily Allen (Bunbury and Districts) - Deputy Vice-Captain Megan Bam (Eastern Goldfields) Olivia Bidwell (Geraldton) Laura Croft (Subiaco-Floreat/Gippsland VIC) - Captain Ava Dodds (Bunbury and Districts) Drew Epis (Eastern Goldfields) Molly Lincoln (Bunbury and Districts) Lauren Newman (Geraldton) Hollie Perkins (Bunbury and Districts) Matilda Richings (Bunbury and Districts) Meg Spalding (Geraldton) Ashlyn Thompson (Geraldton) Jo Walker (Geraldton) – Vice-Captain Ruby York (Avon/South Perth) Coach: Chris Secker Assistant coach: Shani Waugh Manager: Kelsie Squires