Talented juniors chase title at country week

Albany Junior Cricket Association will send three teams to Perth for the annual junior country week cricket competition next week as the first side eye reclaiming the title they last won in 2014.

AJCA won the A-section division at the tournament back in 2014 when they prevailed in the standings by 0.5 points but have failed to replicate that effort in the past two seasons.

The three most recent Albany victories have been in 2014, 2010 and 1998, with Busselton-Margaret River claiming the past two titles.

With a strong first team full of talented young players, coach Brett Wolfe believes the side is ready for a bold showing when the competition starts next Tuesday.

Tom Wolfe and Ted Batchelor have been named co-captains of the Albany first XI and are joined by fellow players Matthew and Michael Ferreira, Tom Hunt, Lachy O’Shea and Aubin Spurr, who also have A-grade experience behind them.

“A lot of the boys have experience (playing) in Perth this year,” Brett Wolfe said.

“They have been going up and playing on turf, which will certainly help.

“We have got great bowling depth with Hunt, O’Shea, Batchelor and Michael Ferreira plus Spurr as our spinner.

“I think the 50-over games will suit us better, our side is not a Twenty20 team.”

Albany begin their campaign with a 50-over clash next Tuesday against Peel before Twenty20 fixtures against Wellington and Busselton-Margaret River on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Albany will take on Bunbury and Districts in a 40-over match before a 50-over fixture against Geraldton to round out the tournament.

Wolfe voiced his displeasure at the tournament format, with the introduction of Twenty20 games and a reduced 40-over fixture.

“It’s a bit disappointing the WACA have shortened up country week,” he said.

“I don’t think Twenty20 is the way to go.

“It is also very disappointing that our second side is going up to play three games.

“If we lose a game because of the heat policy they could be playing two games.”

Albany will send a second team that will play in C-section of the tournament but with seven teams competing it forces them to have a bye in round 4.

Albany’s third XI will play in the under-14 A-section division against Peel, Bunbury and Districts, Busselton-Margaret River, Geraldton and Pingelly-Avon.

AJCA squads:

Albany 1: Tom Wolfe, Ted Batchelor, Jye Clark, Harry Crane, Aidan Dallimore, Matthew Ferreira, Michael Ferreira, Tom Hunt, Brent Johnson, Lachy O’Shea, Hayden Parker, Aubin Spurr.

Albany 2: Joe Alvin, Keegan Berry, Jacob Blight, Flynn Cristinelli, Oscar Gilbert, Colby Ireland, Jed Langslow, Jonah Muir, Alex Pearce, James Plowman, Sam Steel, Oliver Tetlow.

Albany 3: Dustin Boyce, Heath Brown, Harrison Brown, Donovan Geddes, Lorcan McNamara, Noah Middleton, Aden Montague, Bodhi Stanton, Sebastian Stanton, Darcy Wallinger, Rohan Williams, Jye Williss.