DUBBO will take a 13-man squad to Parkes on Sunday as it looks to book a spot in the final eight of the statewide SCG Cup competition.
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The Specsavers-sponsored squad features a blend of youth and experience, as well as options to cover any kind of pitch condition the southern side may produce.
Both Ben Taylor and Ben Strachan got through practice sessions on Wednesday and have been named, despite carrying back complaints while Declan Hoare is also in the squad but will have to get through some overs for Macquarie on Saturday in order to prove his fitness.
"We think we have every base covered, and we need to because we don't know what the conditions will be," selector and paceman Tim Cox said.
"Greg Buckley, Mitch Bower and Dan Medway are there if it's dry and will favour the slow bowlers. We have Declan, 'Strachany', Ben Patterson, Ben Taylor and myself if it looks like it is a seamers' wicket and everyone can hold the bat a bit as well."
Parkes have been a bogey side for Dubbo in recent SCG Cup campaigns, beating their northern rivals at the same stage for the past two seasons.
A win on Sunday would be a reward for three years of hard work by Dubbo's selectors and players.
"We have made the SCG Cup a real emphasis in that time but unfortunately fallen at the last hurdle to get into that top eight," Cox said.
“If we could win on Sunday it would also put us back above Parkes in the seedings and make sure we wouldn’t have to travel as much next season.”
The reward for the winning side on Sunday will be a trip to the central coast on Boxing Day, with the two-day knockout carnival to begin on December 27.
“We’re not looking past Sunday but if we get to the central coast it will be a game on the 27th, if we won that it would be a game on the 28th and if we won that then we’d be off to the final,” Cox said.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to go in before we get to that stage first. Parkes have a very good side and it will take a big effort to beat them.
“They have three guys - Anthony Heraghty, Phil Dunford and Pat Rosser - that played big roles in Western Zone winning the country championship and a lot of other talented players as well.”
DUBBO SQUAD
Jordan Moran (c), Greg Buckley, Brad Cox, Tim Cox, Declan Hoare, Jason Green, Mitch Bower, Jason Ryan, Chris Morton, Dan Medway, Ben Strachan, Ben Patterson, Ben Taylor