MADE IT: Trent Colley has earned a place in the Western Zone open cricket side. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 1104colley1
MITCHELL captain Trent Colley is happy to see some fresh faces in the Western Zone side announced on Sunday.
The Orange batsman earned a place in the zone side after a mixed weekend.
Mitchell secured a 43-run win against Lachlan on Saturday before scoring a seven-wicket victory over Macquarie on Sunday to earn the Western Zone crown.
Colley earned a place in the zone side, which will also feature the youth off teenage bowlers Liam Gough (Orange), Joe Kershaw (Cowra) and Declan Hoare (Nyngan).
“They fully deserved their spots,” Colley said of the young bowlers.
“Liam did exceptionally well on the weekend. He took the new ball both days and had the batsmen in trouble because he could swing the ball and swing it all day.”
Gough took 5-45 off his 10 overs on Saturday and 3-25 off his eight-over spell on Sunday.
Kershaw claimed 3-31 for Lachlan on Saturday and then backed up for Cowra against Orange colts on Sunday where he scored 73 runs and took 6-22.
Hoare is no stranger to the Western Zone open side after the playing in the team which finished runners-up in the 2011-12 Country Championship, along with Colley.
Colley said he hoped to make the Western Zone side but had an up-and-down weekend with the bat.
“It always is very exciting to get picked,” Colley said.
“I was definitely hoping to get picked. I hadn’t performed too bad over the Western Premier League games we’d had. I think Sunday helped.”
Colley opened for Mitchell in both games but was caught off a Joe Kershaw delivery for eight on Saturday.
Sunday was an improved performance for Colley as he carried his bat to finish the day at 64 not out.
“I was a bit disappointed on Saturday,” he said.
“Joe Kershaw bowled well to me and I wasn’t up to it and he knocked me over. On Sunday it was important to stick at it. It was nice to spend time in the middle and score some runs. These are the games you want to score runs in because they’re another step up.”
Colley said even though Western Zone boasts some youthful players, there was still plenty of experience in the side.
“We’ve got a strong side on paper,” he said
“I’m glad there’s a few Mitchell blokes in there after the weekend we had.
“The side has got a blend of experience and young blokes. You’ve got your young bowlers like Liam, Joe and Declan but you’ve also got the older guys like Phil Dunford and James O’Brien who have experience at that level. The batting has probably got a bit more experience.”
The Western Zone side will compete in the southern pool of the NSW Country Championships in Wagga Wagga from November 9-11.
The team won’t train together unless they get a session in on the Thursday afternoon they arrive at Wagga.
Western will go up against the Southern, Riverina and Illawarra zones.
The winning zone will take on the top team from the northern pool in the Country final on November 25.
Colley will get a taste of the Country Championships this weekend when he coaches the Western Zone under 17s at Raymond Terrace.
