Dubbo’s defeat to Bathurst in the Western Premier League grand final last season was one of the most disappointing losses for the side in some time but a new-look team and fresh approach has the squad ready to avenge that result.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Premier League is now defunct, making the McDonald’s Cup knockout tournament the premier representative competition for local sides and Dubbo meet Bathurst at No. 1 Oval on Sunday.
Marty Jeffrey was one of the few teenagers in the Dubbo representative fold last season but this time out he is joined by the likes of Henry Railz, Thomas Nelson and Ben Knaggs as selectors have turned to young, talented and in-form players.
“I think having that blend of youth and experience is a good thing,” Jeffrey said.
“We learn a lot from them and its really good of them to give us a go and also give us the ball in the pressure situations and bat us where we normally bat.”
I think having that blend of youth and experience is a good thing.
- Marty Jeffrey
The Dubbo side has plenty of motivation heading into Sunday’s clash.
Not only did the team lose Bathurst in the Premier League final last season, it was also defeated by Parkes in round three of the last McDonald’s Cup.
Parkes then went on to win the competition for sides based in country NSW and Jeffrey said his squad could learn a lot from the premiers.
“Parkes showed in this competition last year when they won it that they had set out to go the whole way and for Dubbo it might not have been a priority and we got beat by Parkes,” he said.
“But with no Premier League now and this being knockout I think it will be good for Dubbo cricket to go a long way.”
The Dubbo side has been hard at work in training, something Jeffrey said was lacking slightly last season, and Sunday’s squad will be led by captain Mitch Bower and fellow NSW Country player Jordan Moran, while RSL-Colts star Greg Buckley is back on Australian shores and straight into the team.
The Englishman missed the second half of last season and the opening round of this season’s Whitney Cup but his hard-hitting and wily off-spin will be a welcome addition to Bower’s squad.
Will Lindsay, James O’Brien, Railz and Mat Skinner lead the way as the seamers while there is a stack of slow bowling options with Jeffrey, Buckley and Steve Skinner all regular wicket-takers.
There is plenty of power in the batting lineup as well. Bower, Moran, Chris Russo and Buckley are all expected to feature in the top order while Jason Ryan and Chris Morton will provide some real explosiveness lower down.
Play begins at 10am.