BALLARAT Cricket Association is set to commence its Melbourne Country Week campaign with a squad of just 13 following the injury to key all-rounder Jason Knowles.
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Knowles suffered a bad hamstring tear while batting in Saturday’s first eleven clash against North Ballarat and subsequently ruled himself out of the carnival.
It is the second season in-a-row that injury has stung Knowles in the lead-up to the tournament, but he was able to overcome a quadriceps issue last year and take his place in the team.
Knowles, who has made 389 runs at an average of 55.6 and taken 15 wickets this season, told The Courier he would probably be sidelined for a month with the injury.
BCA chairman of selectors Mark Van De Heuvel said the loss of the Brown Hill player was a “massive blow” for the team, but still remained upbeat about its ability to gain promotion back to the provincial division.
“I’m very confident - simple as that,” Van De Heuvel said.
Van De Heuvel said selectors wouldn’t fill the 14th spot in the squad just yet, but rather wait and see how things panned out early in the competition before assessing the need for Knowles’ replacement.
East Ballarat’s Adam Ranson is listed as the BCA’s emergency.
The BCA begins its division two carnival on Monday with a clash against Hamilton in Werribee. It then lines up Ferntree Gully and District, Mornington Peninsula (2) and Leongatha before Friday’s final.
The team, which will be captained by Wendouree’s Heath Pyke, features a strong blend of experience and international talent.
Van De Heuvel said he wasn’t too worried about the BCA’s lead-up losses to Maryborough and District and Bendigo given it was a type of “trial and error” with the team.
He said this year’s BCA squad was “very experienced” and believed provincial was where the competition belonged.
“It’s (a return to provincial) important for Ballarat in total,” he said.
“That’s where we should be. We’ve gone well in provincial when we’ve been there - we’ve won it a few times.”
Darley captain-coach Heath Pritchard is a confirmed absentee for Wednesday’s encounter, but is available for the other matches.
The top two teams play off in Friday’s final, with only the winner promoted.
