The debut of Queanbeyan offspinner Zac Beveridge and a switch of the team leadership headlines the 12-player squad ACT Comets Head Coach Jono Dean has named for next week’s Toyota National Second XI Competition match against Tasmania in Canberra.
The Tigers’ 2nd XI will arrive in the Nation’s Capital over the weekend, ahead of the match at EPC Solar Park in Phillip from next Monday, 22 January.
Replacing Weston Creek-Molonglo legspinner Blake Faunce, former Queensland Premier Cricket player Beveridge comes into the side on the back of some impressive form for the Bluebags in his debut season in ACT Premier Cricket, including a hat-trick back in Round 3.
Incredibly, he then took a second hat-trick for the season playing for the ACT at the Australian Country Championships in Newcastle earlier this month.
“I’m really pleased for Zac, earning his opportunity through a weight of wickets and quality of performance, both in Grade Cricket and at the Country Championships, too,” Dean said.
“And we’re keen to see how Nic Broes handles the captaincy too, switching with Hanno Jacobs who has done a great job for the first two games. As much as we’re giving opportunities for players, we need to develop future leaders as well, so Nic gets his chance.”
The side again includes three interstate-based players of ACT origin as per the agreement Cricket ACT has gained from the other Australian states. Part of the agreement around the Comets return to national competition will see this number decrease in future seasons.
ACT Comets squad to take on Tasmanian 2nd XI in Canberra, 22-25 January:
1. Nic Broes (Captain – right-hand batter, Queanbeyan)
2. Jack Sanson (right-hand batter, Eastlake)
3. Zac Worden (right-hand batter, Ginninderra)
4. Zak Keogh (right-hand batter, Weston Creek-Molonglo)
5. Tyler Van Luin (allrounder, Queanbeyan)
6. Scott Murn (allrounder, Western Districts)
7. Hanno Jacobs * (VC – allrounder; Western Suburbs, NSW)
8. Mikey McNamara (wicketkeeper, Queanbeyan)
9. Benji Floros * (right-arm fast bowler; Valleys, Queensland)
10. Zac Beveridge + (right-arm offspin bowler, Queanbeyan)
11. Sam Skelly * (right-arm fast bowler; Eastern Suburbs, NSW)
12. Kai Brunker (right-arm leg spin bowler, Queanbeyan)
* Denotes interstate player of ACT origin
+ Denotes National 2nd XI Competition debut
Head Coach – Jono Dean
Article by Brett McKay