The 2017 Commonwealth Bank Australian Country Cricket Championships will begin in Wollongong tomorrow, with Australia’s best male and female cricketers competing for the title of Country Champions.
The men’s division – featuring six teams – will begin tomorrow, featuring one-day and T20 matches, with the seven-team women’s division to begin on Friday in a T20 format.
South Australia will be looking to defend their title in the men’s division, the state’s first-ever Country Championships title win, while East Asia-Pacific won the inaugural women’s title and will be looking to make it two-from-two.
The women’s division will be decided by a final on January 11, with the top team in the men’s division following the 10th and final round of matches on January 11 to be declared the champions.
CA Executive General Manager, Game and Market Development Andrew Ingleton said:
“The Commonwealth Bank Australian Country Cricket Championships are an outstanding opportunity for regional Australia’s best male and female cricketers to showcase their cricketing abilities,” Ingleton said.
“With a rich history spanning more than 30 years, the championships have helped to produce many exceptional cricketers, including former Australian international representatives Andy Bichel and Shaun Tait.
“This is now the second year with a women’s division at the championships. It is pleasing to see the number of teams grow this year, and we look forward to seeing what is already a strong standard of cricket continue to improve.
“This tournament is an important part of the cricketing pathway. We hope this opportunity will inspire our country cricketers – those playing this year, and those who aspire to play in the future – to play at the highest level of competition they can.
“We look forward to seeing the teams take to some outstanding facilities in Wollongong, and we thank Cricket New South Wales, Wollongong City Council, Cricket Illawarra and its clubs, and all involved who will ensure this year’s event is a success.”
The championships will be launched tonight with a reception followed by an exhibition T20 match between an Australian Country XIII and an Illawarra Invitational XII at Wollongong North Dalton Park. Media are welcome to attend the reception, at 5pm, and the T20 match at 6.10pm.
Former international cricketers Brendan Nash, Murray Goodwin, Julien Wiener and Brett Geeves will be among six Australian Cricketers’ Association representatives lining up for the Illawarra Invitational XII.
For full men’s and women’s squads at this year’s Australia Country Cricket Championships, click here
To follow all the action during the 2017 Commonwealth Bank Australia Country Cricket Championships, visit www.countrychamps.com.au, or follow @CAPathway on Twitter, using the hashtag #CountryChamps17
Australian Country XIII: Ben Boyd – capt (VIC), Ben Smith (SA), Nathan Walsh (VIC), Ben Parish (SA), Tony Hampson (QLD), Julian Crudelli (WA), Sean Nottle (SA), Patrick Butler (WA), Peter Gallichan (NSW), Nick Foster (NSW), Cameron Taylor (VIC), Gerard Fox (QLD), Dogodo Bau (EAP)
Illawarra Invitational XII: Tim Laws (Wollongong), Oscar Oborn Corby (Wests Illawarra), Tom McDevitt (Corrimal), Jason Ralston (Port Kembla), Hayden McCrae (Helensburgh), Wes Van Kempen (Keira), Cameron Borgas (ACA), Brendan Nash (ACA), Murray Goodwin (ACA), Brett Geeves (ACA), Julien Wiener (ACA), Daniel Smith (ACA)
Nick Duxson – CA Communications
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