Newcastle Players On Song To Lead Country Tilt

Newcastle Herald

Thursday January 1, 2009

James Gardiner THE LEADING EDGE

THE Newcastle-led Bush Blues will begin their defence of the Australian Country Cricket Championships in South Australia on Sunday with one thing in their favour form.

Newcastle (six) and Tamworth (four) have supplied the majority of the 13-man squad, which leaves for the Barossa Valley on Saturday.

They will play five games three 100-overs-a-side and two 50-overs-a-side in 10 days, starting with a two-dayer against Victoria.

Of the Newcastle contingent, Troy Goodwin and Andrew Maher will be making their Country carnival debut.

Simon Moore and Nathan Price played last year. Mark Littlewood and Ben Woolmer return after one and two seasons away respectively.

Goodwin could not have asked for a better preparation. The powerful Merewether right-hander has scored 448 run at an average of 88.6 to be the leading batsman in Newcastle district cricket.

Moore has 264 run at 66 and also top-scored for Newcastle with 77 in the NSW Country Championships final win over Riverina.

Price has done the job with bat and ball, amassing 271 grade runs at 54 to go with 16 wickets at 12.

Littlewood is yet to compile a big score for club side Belmont but struck a superb century for Newcastle against Central Coast.

Woolmer has seen limited action at club level but is a proven performer on the rep scene.

Maher is yet to make a major impact since returning from Sydney club Blacktown but is expected to spearhead the attack alongside Tamworth whiz kid Josh Hazlewood.

Country captain Jeff Cook, who helped guide Tamworth to the final of the SCG Country Cup, where they will meet Stockton, could not be happier with the squad.

"Talking to coach Mark Curry, he rates it as one of the best NSW sides he has seen in the 25 years of the competition," Cook said.

"There is talent right across the board. The selectors will face a tough time deciding who to leave out of the XI."

Of the Newcastle players, Cook singled out Littlewood and Moore as key components.

"Littlewood is certain to bat at three and Moorey, whether he opens or bats at four, will be pivotal to our success," he said.

© 2009 Newcastle Herald

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