The Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s men’s Melbourne Country Week squad is stacked with some of the competition’s most experienced players.
The GDCA announced a 16-man squad with players coming from six McIntyre Cup sides and one Johnstone Shield side.
Such is the strength of the squad, seven have won the GDCA’s highest honour, the Sullivan Medal.
There are two current captain-coaches, while another three players have coached sides previously in the competition.
Romsey captain-coach Ben Way has been named skipper of the side,having also captained the team last year.
Gisborne captain-coach Jarryd Vernon and Woodend’s Marcus Stewart have been named vice-captains. Stewart was the side’s leading run scorer last year.
Last season’s Sullivan Medallist Riley Vernon joins his brother in the squad along with Dragons teammate Matthew Barake.
Romsey has the most representatives with Chris Burkett, Louis Moor, Aaron Paterson, Thomas Boyer and Taylor Stevenson joining Way in the squad.
Macedon’s Cameron Clayton, Rupertswood pair Kevin Barker and Rhys Berry, Sunbury United gun bat Damien Edwards and Woodend’s Harrison Sheahan are also in the squad.
Eastern Hill’s Benjamin Bryant is the only player from the Johnstone Shield selected in the squad.
He sits second in the runs scored and is the leading wicket taker in that competition.
Country week starts on February 9 with the grand final held on the Friday of that week.
The GDCA will play in the division 2 competition.
Last year the side won two matches, while losing two others.
