It’s been a big week of cricket for Ben Knaggs without the budding all-rounder even bowling a ball or swinging the willow.
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Knaggs enjoyed a breakout season last summer, cementing himself as a genuine Whitney Cup threat with both bat and ball while he also got representative experience when called up to the Dubbo side.
Last month he got a call-up to the NSW Country side which contested the State Challenge at Coffs Harbour and this week he scored selection in the Western Zone side which will host the upcoming Country Colts Championship at Dubbo while he was also chosen as part of the Orana Outaws contingent for this season’s Plan B Regional Bash.
“I’m really excited,” Knaggs said of the upcoming summer.
“Getting the chance to play for the Outlaws would be a good experience with the colts it’s good to be there with the boys.”
The CYMS all-rounder was part of the Western colts side last season which won two and lost just one of its matches.
The aim this season is therefore pretty simple – win all three.
Knaggs is one of five Dubbo players named in the squad, with RSL-Colts and NSW Country star Marty Jeffrey named as vice-captain.
Bathurst’s Tom Galvin will skipper the side while Henry Railz, Blake Watmore and Charlie Kempston are the other locals to make the squad.
Western plays Newcastle, North Coastal and Southern/ACT at Dubbo from September 16-18 and Knaggs has confidence in his squad.
“We’re quite a young side but it’s really strong with guys like Tom Galvin, Marty and Luke Powell there, they’re all high quality cricketers,” he said.
“Last year we won two and lost one so this year we really want to go all three and we’re a good side who should make a good impression.”
In terms of his own game, Knaggs has been pleased by his development and while he isn’t setting any outlandish goals for 2016/17, he is determined to keep on improving.
“Through colts I’d probably like to average three wickets a game across the three games and maybe chip in with 100 runs or so,” he said.
“And through the season I’d just like to keep on improving and improve my bowling and take more wickets.”
Western kicks off its Country Colts Championship with a match against a talented Newcastle outfit at No. 1 Oval next Friday.
WESTERN ZONE: Tom Galvin © (Bathurst), Marty Jeffrey (vc), Ben Knaggs, Henry Railz, Blake Watmore, Charlie Kempston (Dubbo), Mark Day, Ben Parsons, Ryan Peacock, Luke Powell (Bathurst), Ned Pearson (Blue Mountains), Michael Hannelly (Orange), Jonte Powderley (Young)
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
