Four SWC guns feature in the 12-member squad, selected on runs made, wickets taken and catches held during regular-season matches in 2014-15.

The four are Pomborneit’s Matt Bignell, Mortlake’s Shane Slater, Cobden’s Matt Ross-Watson and Heytesbury Rebels’ Chris Vogels.

Warrnambool and District Cricket Association is represented courtesy of Russells Creek wicketkeeper Shanaka Perumpuli.

Purnim paceman Luke Ryan, who was the only player in the Waves region to take 40-plus wickets, is the sole Grassmere Cricket Association representative.

The remaining six members hail from the Hamilton and District, West Wimmera and Horsham associations. Macarthur’s Charlie Nield is the captain.

The team of the year allows Waves officials to compare cricketers in top-grade competitions from Portland to Camperdown and up to Horsham. Those selected will have their names forwarded to the Victorian Country Cricket League, (VCCL) which will select its own best of the bush team.

Western Waves and VCCL selector Peter Russell said he had had conversations with “people right across the region” when considering who to name.

“Carrying out this exercise shows players that, statistically, they do stack up against one another,” he said.

“We all understand there are different levels of competition but you can only bat and bowl against the players on the other team.

“At least selecting a Waves team of the year gives us a starting point for working out our best players and sorting potential state country squad members.”

Team of the year criteria dictates the 12 players must be six batsmen, an all-rounder, wicketkeeper and four bowlers, one who must be a spinner.

Nield was the top run maker in the Waves region, smashing 583 at an average of 83.71 in the HDCA. He also took 32 wickets at 12.75.

But Jeparit’s Michael Preston finished the summer with the best batting average — a whopping 123, having lost his wicket in the WWCA just four times.

Ryan was the dominant bowler with 42 scalps at 12.69. Perumpuli took 19 catches and executed two stumpings with the gloves.

Members of the team of the year are invited to attend the Waves’ annual meeting at Hamilton on July 26 for a certificate presentation.