The NSW Country selection committee has named the NSW Men’s and Women’s teams for the Toyota Australian Country Cricket Championships (ACCC), to be played in early January across Western Australia (men’s) and South Australia’s Barossa Valley (women’s).
NSW squads named for Australian Country Cricket Championships
Both tournaments begin on January 3, with the women’s competition concluding on Friday, January 9, before the men’s Championships wrap up on Saturday, January 10.
A fresh-faced NSW Bush Blues squad will head to Busselton, with nine players set to make their Championship debut, including newly appointed captain Liam O’Farrell.
On the women’s side, Newcastle batter Kate McTaggart is among five debutants selected for the NSW Bush Breakers, following a standout U19 Female National Championships campaign where she finished third on the run-scoring list and earned Team of the Tournament honours. She will be joined in the Barossa Valley by fellow first-timers Alisha Bates, Nell Bryson-Smith, Jessica Davidson and Alice Donohue.
NSW Bush Blues
*Liam O’Farrell (c) | Central Coast
Ben Balcomb | Newcastle
Aaron Bills | Newcastle
*Thomas Byrnes | North Coast
*Rhys Cattle | Illawarra
*Jack Cooper | North Coast
Ryan Fenning | Central Coast
*Guy Hammond | Western
*Lachlan Maddinson | Illawarra
*Jack McDonald | Illawarra
*Paddy McNamara | Riverina
*Patrick Moore | Newcastle
Jake O’Connell | Illawarra
Jayden Zahra-Smith | Illawarra
Head Coach | Shane Burley
Assistant Coach | Dylan Weeding
Scorer | David Redden
NSW Bush Breakers
Kira Churchland (C) | Western
*Alisha Bates | Central West
*Nell Bryson-Smith | Southern Districts
*Jessica Davidson | Central North
Rochelle Davis | Central Coast
*Alicia Donohue | Riverina
Emma-Jayne Howe | Newcastle
Emma Hughes | Western
Aimee Longhurst | Western
Claire McGuirk | Central North
*Kate McTaggart | Newcastle
Kelly Rowlings | Southern Districts
Kirsten Smith | Newcastle
Ella Tilburg | Western
Head Coach | Kate Jackson
Assistant Coach | Steve Davies
Scorer | Allison Brockley
*debutants
Chair of Country Cricket, Paul Marjoribanks, said the Championships showcased the very best of NSW Country cricket.
“We’re incredibly proud to see our NSW Country players representing their communities on the national stage.
“These Championships represent the pinnacle of regional cricket in Australia, and they provide a valuable opportunity for players to test themselves against the best from across the country.
“Our Bush Blues and Bush Breakers have prepared strongly, and they carry with them the support of the clubs, volunteers and communities that underpin country cricket in NSW.
“I look forward to following their progress closely and wish all teams the very best for a highly competitive and memorable Championships.”
Matches will be live streamed with links provided daily on Facebook via Country Cricket NSW.
Tournament scorecards can be found here.