BALLARAT Cricket Association’s senior side will have its final representative hit-out before Melbourne Country Week in Sunday’s annual challenge against Bendigo.
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The match, one of eight to be played throughout Bendigo to decide the winner of the Turner-Hollioake Shield, will be an ideal warm-up ahead of the carnival, beginning on February 18.
Ballarat and Bendigo will both play in the provincial division, which is the highest level of competition at Melbourne Country Week.
BCA chairman of selectors Heath Pyke said he was pleased with the senior squad selected for this weekend, which will again include district players Paul Phillips (Dunnstown) and Liam Rigby (Buninyong).
Pyke said while the match was used as a lead-in to Melbourne Country Week, the team was desperate to record a win.
Mt Clear’s Matt Goonan will captain the side, which appears stronger than the outfits that reclaimed the Kenmac Shield recently.
Notable inclusions from previous representative sides this season include Mounties skipper Lincoln Blake and Naps-Sebas captain-coach Dan Davies.
Aside from the senior match, Ballarat and Bendigo will battle it out in a range of underage encounters from under-21s to under-12s.
The past three challenge weekends have returned no results due to rain and extreme heat, leaving the Turner-Hollioake Shield in the hands of this year’s hosts.
Ballarat senior side:
Matt Goonan (c) (Mt Clear), Matt Ward (Mt Clear), Lincoln Blake (Mt Clear), Ryan Knowles (Brown Hill), Jason Knowles (Brown Hill), Dan Davies (Naps-Sebas), Matt Cape (Darley), Tim Hughes (Darley), Peter Moore (Darley), Liam Rigby (Buninyong), Paul Phillips (Dunnstown).
tim.o’connor@fairfaxmedia.com.au
