Victorian Under-17 Country and Metro trial squads announced

On the back of strong performances at the 2014-15 Victorian Bushrangers Pathway Championships and having been identified as cricketers with potential, members of the trial squads will commence a five session winter training program on Sunday.

Following the training program, trial games will be conducted at all-weather facilities in mid-August with the final Under-17 Country and Metro squads being announced in late August for the National Championships in Brisbane, held from September 28 to October 8, 2015.

“The trial squad will see the state’s most talented under-17 cricketers have the opportunity to develop their skills over the pre-season at the MCG, while staking their claim for state selection,” High Performance Academy head coach Jarrad Loughman said.

“A number of changes were made to the national underage pathway program for the 2015-16 season including the presence of a Victorian Metro and Victorian Country team at the under-17 and 19 national tournaments.

“In addition to the revamped set-up with two state teams, the influx of a great deal of new players into the youth system is certainly exciting for Victorian cricket.

“This year’s Academy Teams Program (U17 & U19) will again provide a strong skills component, as well as key performance management elements including strength and conditioning, nutrition and sports psychology.

“With more opportunities to play representative cricket, two Victorian teams will give twice as many cricketers the chance to showcase their skills on the national stage.”

The Under-17 National Championships have also moved to September to allow for the best players at the under-17 tournament to represent a Cricket Australia Under-17 XI at the Under-19 National Championships in December.

All matches at the tournament will be played in 50-over format and the championship will now include a final.

Victorian Under-17 Country trial squad

Barwon Rockets
Charles McCartin
Jordan Rossi
Connor Soulsby
Logan Taylor
Leyton Thulborn
Jarrod Walters

Central Highlanders
Mitchell Lewis
Tom Millard
Tom Rogers

Gippsland Pride
Wilson McGillvray
Tom Officer

Mallee Murray Bulls
Jarrod Brander
Brent Daniels
Austin McKerrow
Josh Wooding

North East Country Knights
Caleb Barras
Fraser Ellis
Bradley Melville
Ben Welsh

Northern Rivers
Jack Bouwmeester
Alistair McCann
Cade Mueller
Andrew Poppa
James Ryan

South East Country Sharks
Thomas Ewing
Sam Fowler
Matthew Foy
Jake Frawley
Luke McMaster
Patrick Nagel

Western Waves
Liam Brown
Daniel Kerber
Lachie Wareham

Victorian Under-17 Metro trial squad

Inner East Emus
Seamus Bolton
Nathan Boucher
James Boyce
Zak Evans
Jon Merlo
Sam Milne
Andrew Young

Inner South East Scorpions
Jim Cowie
Will Sutherland

North West Wizards
Tom Burnside
Connor Maguire
Zachary Mevisson
Alex Mills
Kevin Spaull

Northern Falcons
Arky Cheema
Michael Edwards
Connor Rutland
Jack Sacchetta
Christian Snelson
Tate Volitakis

Outer East Eagles
Sam Beer
Josh Hartill
Joel Robertson
Rory Tattersall

South East Bayside Breakers
Shubham Bhargave
Austin Heldt
Jonathan Leadbeater
Nathan Murphy
Edward Newman
Blake Parsons
Howie Persson
Harry Wardlaw

Southern Pioneers
Brayden Sharp

Western Spirit
Archit Shukla