MATT Foon will lead the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association in the Country Week Provincial squad at the championships that kick off this week around Victoria.
There are some new faces in the squad adding to the ones we have been used to seeing over the journey, which speaks volumes about the strength and depth of the competition.
Peninsula Old Boys star Matt Hyden was an obvious choice after accumulating plenty of runs this season.
The competition’s best player, Scott Phillips, who has 400 runs this season and 38 wickets, will not play for the MPCA. Neither will Nick Jewell, who has 337 runs this season.
Crib Point bowling dynamo Brad Davidson has been rewarded for a fine season and 33 wickets with a call-up, while Lachy Dobson from Carrum has also been included in the team.
Andrew ‘AJ’ King is an obvious starter after claiming 31 wickets this season.
Corey Harris and Ben Clements have 396 and 395 runs respectively this season and they are in the team, as is Shaun Foster from Carrum, who has been named vice captain. Rob Hearn is the other Magpie in the team.
Langwarrin’s Andy Johnson is in the team. He has had a very consistent season with 362 runs and will be a foil for opposition in the middle order.
Country Week veterans Wade Pelzer, Luke Popov, Bobby Wilson and Justin Bridgeman make-up the rest of the star-studded squad.
The Development Squad is also packed with some in-form players.
POB’s Jon Forest will lead the young team, which includes Liam O’Connor (Sorrento), Spencer Byatt (Boneo), David Eaton (Crib Point), Jackson Fry (Carrum), Luke Hewitt (Hastings), Damien Lawrence (Seaford), Brent Martin (Red Hill), Aaron Paxton (Long Island), Leigh Poholke (Sorrento), Brad Trotter (Pearcedale), Nick Wilcox (Pines), Dylan O’Malley (POB), Adam Gailitis (POB), Matt Davie (Langwarrin).