Western Zone coach Jordan Moran has expressed a desire for early wickets and a solid batting platform at the top of the order in a bid to achieve success at this week’s Bradman Cup carnival starting today in Wollongong.
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First up Western under-17s will be against Southern, then play North Coastal on Wednesday and finish with Newcastle on Thursday. All games will be over 50 overs.
The other pool comprises teams from Central Northern, Illawarra, Central Coast and Riverina. Moran, the Dubbo and Western Zone batsman and wicket-keeper, is in charge of his first representative junior side and sees this carnival as a major one for his squad of players.
“I’m hoping that Liam Gough, Jake McIllhatton and Brent Tucker can get amongst the wickets early. They are very good young bowlers and it’s important that we get on top early,” Moran said.
“We’ve also got Tom Farnell, Hayden Sealey and Corey Suckling to call on while our variety will come from left arm orthodox spinner Max Hope and Alex Umbers with his off spin. “The important aspect of the batting is that we will have 50 overs to score runs and we need to occupy the crease for the full period. That will require plenty of concentration from everyone and especially the top order who will need to get us away to a good start.”
Luke Hiller and Michael Waldren will open the batting for Western with Joe Kershaw, Wayne Sellers and all rounders Sealey and Hope also in the mix.
It’s a good side for Moran to work with but in recent times Western has gone away with solid sides only to be disappointed with the results.
Moran and the players got together in Dubbo for a two-day camp last week and he said it was an important part of their preparation.
“Bearing in mind the boys are spread from towns around the zone so it gave us all the opportunity to get to know each other,” he said.
“We also did some video analysis as well and that gave the boys something to take away and work on.”
Moran is also coach of the Western Zone Colts team for the upcoming Country carnival to be played in Dubbo starting on January 21. He used both 17s and Colts squads to advantage with a warm-up game a feature as well as skills and physical work.
In a busy period for Western Zone junior teams, the Kookaburra Cup for under-14s will be played on January 17-20 in the Southern Highlands.
o Western Zone Under-17s: Corey Suckling (Dubbo), Luke Hiller (Cobar), Michael Waldren, Max Hope (Bathurst), Joe Kershaw (Greenthorpe), Hayden Sealey (Condobolin), Wayne Sellers (Oberon), Tom Farnell (Blue Mountains), Liam Gough (Orange), Brent Tucker, Alex Umbers (Parkes), Jake McIllhatton (Young). Coach: Jordan Moran (Dubbo). Manager: Rod Kershaw (Greenthorpe).
