DUBBO captain Tim Cox has spoken of his delight at the announcement two of Dubbo's premier all-rounders of recent times will be playing for the representative side against Parkes tomorrow at Lady Cutler 1.
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After a big win over Cowra last weekend, Dubbo head into tomorrow's second round match against Parkes full of confidence, increased further by the naming of Tim Berry and Ben Strachan in the side.
Berry has been a standout for his club side Souths for a number of years but in the past has made himself unavailable for representative duties while Strachan has returned to Dubbo after spending more than a year in the United Kingdom (UK).
"It's certainly the first time I can say the best players in the competition are in the squad, apart from maybe Jason Green who's been incredible for a long time, but other than that we're getting close to the best team," Cox said.
"It's good to have Tim (Berry), I hassle him most years but it's good to have probably the best player in town in the side.
"It was pleasing to get the call from Ben (Strachan) and he was raring to go and sounded really keen and enthusiastic to get back into representative cricket."
While the Dubbo side looked one of the strongest in recent seasons, Cox said it meant little if they could not quickly learn to play together.
"We've got the best players listed on paper but it doesn't mean a lot, there's a real focus on playing as a team because we've got four or five blokes who open the bowling for their side and the same for batsmen so it's about knowing those roles and fulfilling them," he said.
The rivalry with Parkes is one of the biggest in local sport and despite the retirement of captain Cameron Rosser they still possess one of the most talented and united teams in western NSW.
"They'll be keen and ready under their new captain Anthony Heraghty and any team with heraghty and Pat Rosser are major threats and they've got some great young talent coming through too, Scott Tucker gets faster every year," Cox said.
Dubbo's big win over Parkes was set up by the work done early on in the innings, with Paul Hulthen's 96 a vital contribution and Cox has urged one of his top four batsmen to go and make a big score again tomorrow.
"Paul was the backbone and if one of the top four can bat most of the innings and score a 90 or 100 then it sets up the middle order so you can get a score near 300," he said.
Bowlers Angus Cusack and Jon Kilby are the pair to miss out from last week's team which defeated Cowra but the bowling stocks still look fearsome with the likes of seamers Cox, Ben Patterson, Berry Strachan and Mat Skinner complimented by spinners Ryan Medley, Stuart Naden and Mitch Bower.
The match tomorrow starts at 10am and will be part of a representative gala day at the Lady Cutler complex with the under-16s also taking on Mudgee in a WPL match and the under-12s and 14s also playing representative matches.
DUBBO: Tim Cox (c), Tim Berry, Mitch Bower, Paul Hulthen, Ryan Medley, Jordan Moran, Chris Morton, Stuart Naden, Ben Patterson, Asher Robins, Jason Ryan, Mat Skinner, Ben Strachan.