After a scrupulous selection process, the Victorian Country Cricket League board has selected a squad of 14 to contest the 2025 Australian Country Cricket Championships in the Barossa Valley from January 3-10.
It’ll be familiar waters for Kyle Mueller, who retains his spot from last year.
Kyabram’s king with the willow was difficult to go past considering his form at the Redbacks this season, where he’s blasted 447 runs from seven hits which includes two tons.
He’ll be joined by a fellow Cricket Shepparton big hitter in Victoria Country’s rank and file, as well as a tearaway quick from up north.
Central Park-St Brendan’s captain-coach Tyler Larkin was named in the 14-strong list of stars to don state colours, while Waaia fast bowler Jesse Trower also made the grade.
Tony Ryan, the VCCL board’s Northern Rivers delegate, explained the trial and selection process, which began in October.
“We had a net session down at Junction Oval about a month and a half ago,” he said.
“Then there was a squad of around 24-26 who came and had a hit-out at the Queen Elizabeth Oval here in Bendigo about a fortnight after the initial tryout.
“Then on the weekend just gone, we played a T20 match on Mercy Junortoun Sporting Precinct at Catherine McAuley College on Sunday.
“From there, all the selectors from the seven regions sat down and nutted out a squad of 14.”
While Mueller, Larkin and Trower will continue at club land until January’s ACCC event, they will have one more hit-out with Victoria Country in the lead up.
They’ll face a representative side comprised of players from the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association, squaring off at Junction Oval in a 50-over exhibition on December 8.
With nine new players entering the VCCL line-up from last year, Ryan expects Larkin and Mueller to bat high up the order, while Trower will send them down as an opening/first change bowler.
“It’s a good opportunity, especially for our region’s guys, and just rewards for huge efforts by Kyle in particular,” Ryan said.
“He travelled and toured last year, but for the workhorse of Jesse Trower, I’m absolutely rapt for him.
“He’s a ripping young fella and the work ethic he brings to the table is just through the roof, so I can’t sing his praises enough.
“Tyler’s no different as well; he’s been a mainstay in the Shepparton district and everyone looks up to him as a talent.
“We all know what he brings to the table, but more importantly, on the weekend he was probably the standout bat along with Kyle, so it made it very easy for us to make the selections.”
Lastly, Ryan touched on the strong pulse of Cricket Shepparton currently, seeing VCCL representation triple from last year’s yield.
“I think it is just a highlight of the Shepp region and the Northern Rivers region to sit back and acknowledge the fact that we’ve got three people in the squad of 14, which is bloody fantastic,” he said.
