WA Invitational XI names country cup squad that includes four representatives from the Upper Great Southern

Upper Great Southern trio Kalan Joyce, Joe Dowling and Bailey Parsons will feature in the WA Invitational XI squad set to compete in round one of the Belt-Up Country Cup starting this Sunday in Narrogin. The competition will run across three rounds and will be played between the Albany and Districts Cricket Association, Peel Cricket Association, Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association and the Invitational XI. The WA Invitational XI will begin their campaign against Albany and Districts on Sunday at 11am at Clayton Road Oval, with Ben Payne returning as captain for the squad. UGSCA’s Rodney Ford and Perrin Quartermaine will not feature in this year’s cup, with seven fresh players set to debut for the Invitational XI. In the other round one fixture, Bunbury will clash with Peel at Hay Park in Bunbury. Round two will take place in December and round three is set down for January. The final is scheduled to be played on February 26 at Cresswell Park in Perth. Albany and Districts will be looking to lift their second country cup in as many years and they will have strong representation again through Mt Barker Bulls trio Nathan Crudeli, Alexander Fergie and Jeremy Wood. Royals stars Lincoln Joy and Ted Batchelor are set to feature while Collingwood Park’s Scottish recruit Oliver Davidson will make his debut for ADCA. WA Invitational XI coach Tim Edmunds said he was excited to see some of the best players across the State do battle. “It’s really pleasing that we firstly have a national country championships happening after two years of it being paused for COVID,” he said. “That has a really positive flow-on effect to this competition because all the best players are always going to be playing in this competition. “They have been in the previous two seasons but now there’s plenty more on the line because not only is it a good strong competition but the best players are putting their best foot forward also to do really well for their association and be selected for the State side.” Great Southern Cricket Association round three fixtures were washed out at the weekend. In round four, Australs will play Tambellup and Broomehill will face Wanderers. WA Invitational XI Ben Payne (c) (Busselton Margaret River CA) Calum How (wk) (Newman CA) Michael Noble (Eastern Goldfields CA) Kalan Joyce (Upper Great Southern CA) Clayton Bruce-Cherry (Geraldton CA) Joe Dowling (Upper Great Southern CA) Brady Collins (Geraldton CA) Fraser Oates (Busselton Margaret River CA) Haig Colombera (Busselton Margaret River CA) Bailey Parsons (Upper Great Southern CA) Jack Buswell (Bunbury & Districts CA / University CC) Tom Forsyth (Geraldton CA) ADCA Country Cup Squad Jeremy Wood (c) (Mt Barker) Nathan Crudeli (Mt Barker) Lincoln Joy (Royals) Ted Batchelor (Royals) Ollie Davidson (Collingwood Park) Kieran Howie (Manypeaks) Coen Marwick (Railways) Seb Stanton (Seb Stanton) Josh Dallimore (Collingwood Park) Alex Fergie (Mt Barker) Ryan Kinnear (ADCA)