It was a busy start to the New Year for our ACT teams participating in the Toyota Australian Country Cricket Championships in the Hunter region earlier this month.
Competition kicked off for our Male team on 2 January with the Female team commencing on 3 January.
Some fantastic performances from both our male and female players saw a number of accolades at the presentation dinner on 10 January.
Guy Gillespie and Chelsea Moscript were named in the Male and Female Teams of the tournament and our Female team was presented with the Spirit of Cricket Award. This is the second year running the ACT female team has claimed the Award, as voted on by umpires.
A highlight for our Male team came during their 79-run T20 win against NSW Country in Round 6.
Dave Dubey was the first player of the tournament to score a century. Dubey finished with a run tally of 109 not out in the match, scoring his total just 68 balls, including 12 fours and 5 sixes!
A stellar performance by Zac Beveridge with the ball in the same match, finishing with 5-7, including a hat trick. His second hat trick for the year, having taken one in Premier Cricket earlier in the year.
Our male team finished up with 3 wins and 6 losses overall, with growth and improvement throughout the tournament.
Our Female team featured lots of young talent and the girls showed determination over the course of the tournament. This resulted in a semi finals berth against the eventual tournament winner, Queensland.
Coaches Maddison McGarry and Graham Hilless said the tournament was a great learning experience for a young squad, coming up against some very experienced campaigners.
Team of the Tournament announcement a proud moment for Moscript and Gillespie
Chelsea Moscript, often referred to as the country cricket queen and our ACT captain, took 15 wickets (at 14.2) during the tournament.
Moscript said it was an exciting tournament and all of the girls progressed and grew as a team during the week.
“When we’re all enjoying our cricket it makes it so much easier to gel as a team; and a few wins along the way definitely helps.
“Watching how the girls fought through every game was pretty rewarding.
Moscript is a former Victorian country cricketer, but donned the ACT colours this year, having been living and playing cricket in Canberra since late 2022, and even debuting for the ACT Meteors this season.
“It was a no brainer for me to make the move. I’ve had a lot of experience with Victoria and am really grateful to have played with Victoria for so many years, but the experience of bringing along this young group of girls and given that I’m here (in Canberra) 99 per cent of the time, it made sense for me to play for the ACT.”
Guy Gillespie was also strong with the ball, taking 14 wickets (at 17.93).
Leading into the presentation there was ‘hype’ from teammates about him being named in the Team of the Tournament, hence Gillespie admits there were nerves.
It was really exciting to hear my name called out,” Gillespie said.
“Then to get my cap presented by Peter Solway after his hall of fame induction was a really nice full circle moment, given he presented me with my Queanbeyan cap.
“Getting into the Country Champs team for starters was a proud moment for me and then making the Australian Country Champs team after that was a really nice reward for a few years of hard work. It’s a great feeling when things come together!”
When asked about his goals for the remainder of the Premier Cricket season and looking ahead to 2024/25 Gillespie said the main goal is giving Queanbeyan the best possible chance of winning some trophies.
“Hopefully this season’s success can carry over to next season and with a bit of application I can grab any opportunities that come my way with both hands!”
Peter Solway inducted into Country Cricket Hall of Fame
Presentation night also saw Cricket ACT representative and Queanbeyan District Cricket Club’s, Peter Solway, inducted into the Country Cricket Hall of Fame.
Solway said he was extremely honoured.
“Those players already inducted are outstanding cricketers so to be named alongside them is certainly an honour.”
Country cricket has played a large role in Solway’s cricket career and he has fond memories of the Country Cricket tournament, including the challenges of playing in different conditions and against some wonderful country cricketers.
“Our ACT team was always strong and we had excellent rivalries with the other states, in particular NSW Country. Great rivalries on the field and still good mates to this day off the field.”
When asked about how important the tournament is for cricket in Australia, Solway said it was vital.
“It gives the best cricketers in the country of all ages the opportunity to aspire to play at a higher level and in some cases is the spring board to further careers.
"In other cases it rewards excellent country cricketers, who have been wonderful servants of the game, an opportunity to test themselves against stronger oppositions.
“Hopefully these players stay in the game longer and put back in to their club environments. Country cricket needs this. Country communities need this.
“Cricket in some country areas is struggling. Administrators of our sport need to see this and prioritise funding for the championships accordingly to ensure the success and sustainability of this event into the future.”
Congratulations to all of our ACT players, coaches and support staff.
Congratulations to Queensland Country who won both the Male and Female divisions.
Toyota Australian Country Championships Awards
Player of the Championships:
- Male Player of the Championships – Lee Stockdale (Victoria)
- Female Player of the Championships – Mikayla Wrigley (Queensland)
Male Team of the Tournament:
- Sam Lowry - (Qld - captain)
- Ethan Debono (NSW)
- Hamish Case (SA)
- Haydn Slodecki (WA)
- Matt Wilkins (Qld)
- Jake Toohey (Vic)
- Claye Beams (Qld - wk)
- Lee Stockdale
- Guy Gillespie (ACT)
- Logan Whitfield (Qld)
- Jack Wrigglesworth (Vic)
- Liam Renton (WA)
Female Team of the Tournament:
- Mikayla Wrigley (Qld - captain)
- Jodie Hicks (NSW)
- Alyssa Humphreys (Vic)
- Dharmini Chauhan (NSW)
- Stephanie Beazleigh (SA)
- Grace Abdy (Qld)
- Chelsea Moscript (ACT)
- Jamie-Lee Strang (Qld)
- Tarah Staines (Qld)
- Stephanie Townsend (Vic)
- Madison Albers (Vic)
- Amy Yates (Vic)
Spirit of Cricket Award:
- ACT Female team
Inductees into the Country Cricket Hall of Fame:
- Peter Solway, Queanbeyan District Cricket Club
- Michael "Tuck" Waldron (WA)
Article by Dinah Bryant