Strong Albany flavour in WA Country XI team

For the first time in the history of the WA Country XI, Albany Cricket Association will have six representatives in the final touring squad that will compete in the 2017 Australian Country Cricket Championships in Wollongong, NSW.

Albany had a record six players named in the final team named on Monday with Julian Crudeli, Patrick Butler and Mitchell Jackson joined by debutantes Jeremy Wood, Zane Marwick and Nathan Crudeli.

It is the biggest Albany representation since 1962-63 when Colin Edwards, Joe Menegola, Leith Roe, Kim Sounness and Orm Uncle played for WA against South Africa.

Only three of the Albany products still play in the ACA with Jackson (Collingwood Park) and Butler (North County) playing WACA Premier cricket for Melville and Midland-Guilford respectively while Julian Crudeli (Railways) is currently plying his trade with Williams in the Upper Great Southern.

Jeremy Wood, who hails from Kendenup, joins current Railways players Marwick and Nathan Crudeli in the travelling squad of 14 in their carnival debut.

Julian Crudeli will play at his fourth carnival and is a previous All-Australian. Butler, an All-Australian earlier this year, is going for the third time and Jackson made his debut in 2015.

WA Country XI coach Michael Thistle said all six Albany players had important roles in the team. “Julian is a definitely a key bowler for the side, he moves the ball at pace and we will rely heavily on him,” Thistle said.

“Patrick is a pretty professional young bloke that has impressed me and is a key spinner for the carnival. This will give Mitch some really good experience and hopefully he will take his game to the next level, we will give him some responsibility with bat and ball.”

Thistle said the three debutants all brought different strengths to the line-up.

“Nathan is a great young bowler that is patient and still learning his craft,” he said.

“Marwick has been getting big runs back home and will play more in the one-day format.

“Wood is a senior head , you can tell he’s had that exposure to better cricket and he is one of the key guys to hold each innings together and he can bowl as well.”

The team arrives in NSW on January 2 before the tournament starts on January 3 with a mix of 50-over and Twenty20 matches over nine days.