The young West Warrnambool cricketer is the only girl in the 18-member squad which will fight for a place to take on a team of former cricketing greats, including Test paceman Jason Gillespie.

WDCA chairman of selectors Ray Drew said Townsend had impressed the junior committee and deserved a spot in the squad for next Friday night's Australian Cricketers' Association Masters T-20 match at Reid Oval.

"She is an outstanding cricketer," he said.

"Hopefully this provides a pathway to a premier cricket competition in Melbourne.

"The junior committee thought she should be given the opportunity to show her wares."

A $1000 scholarship is also available for the top junior cricketer.

Townsend, Wesley-CBC's Jordy O'Brien and Dennington pair Liam Youl and Matt Gunther will compete for the cheque and one year of specialist coaching from an ACA Masters team member.

The squad also includes a host of seasoned players, many of whom represented the association at Melbourne Country Week last month.

It will be captained by Dennington's Glenn Skinner and includes Russells Creek coach, quick bowler Ben Boyd, Allansford coach Kyall Timms and Brierly Christ Church skipper Nathan Murphy. Veterans Sam McCluggage (Allansford) and Simon Johnson (West Warrnambool), who weren't part of the Country Week action, have also been named.

Nestles co-captain Brett Eldridge is among the names in line for a spot in the match. Last year he played in an exhibition Twenty20 match which included Geelong footballers as a curtain-raiser to a Victoria-Queensland T20 game at Geelong.

The ACA Masters Regional Tour event will feature other well-known cricketing veterans such as spinners Brad Hogg, Ray Bright, Greg Matthews and opening batsman Matthew Elliott.

Former Nestles wicketkeeper/batsman Tim Ludeman, who won South Australian selection this season, is also returning for the match.

The WDCA squad is expected to be scaled back to 14 members after this weekend's semi-finals.