A PAIR south-west cricketers with leadership qualities are expected to play pivotal roles in Western Waves’ under 16 state championships tilt.
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Nestles' Bailey Jenkinson and Mortlake’s Isaac Wareham are among six Warrnambool and District Cricket Association and South West Cricket players in the 13-player squad.
Waves coach John Houston said Jenkinson and Wareham had leadership traits.
Houston said Jenkinson, who has represented Victoria, was a talented all-rounder.
“He’s a very talented batsman and I’d almost put him in the elite fielding category,” he said.
”His bowling is improving. He’s working on his flight.”
Houston said Wareham – the cousin of Vic Spirit and Melbourne Renegades all-rounder Georgia – was also dangerous in all facets.
“He’s one of our leadership group guys,” he said.
“He’s a top-order batsman and bowls first change.”
Jenkinson and Wareham will join Oliver Mahnacke (Mortlake), Liam Burgess (Woodford), Campbell Love (Brierly-Christ Church) and Damon Dews (Allansford) were also selected for the tournament, which will be split across December and January after a format change.
Houston said Mahnacke was an all-rounder who could rotate the strike when batting, Burgress an aggressive batsman, Love a talented first-change bowler and Dews an attacking batsman.
“Liam can hang around if he needs to but he hits the ball well,” he said.
“He’s a medium pace bowler. He’s fairly tall so he’s varying with his bounces.
“We played a lot of twenty20 and one-dayers so I feel he can contribute in both forms of the game.
“Campbell is a first-change bowler but could open if he needed to.
“With his batting he can be aggressive or rotate, so he’s got two strings to his bow.
“He’s very good in the field for a bottom-ager. He’s one we’re looking to for the future as well.
“Damon in an attacking bat and very good fielder. He’s on his way back from a back injury with his bowling.”
Western Waves will start their campaign in Bendigo on December 17 and play six matches. They will then play one more preliminary fixture plus three finals – to determined standings – in Melbourne from January 15.
Houston said the change to the format enabled teams to play more matches.
“It gives us an opportunity to get more exposure and another plus side is we’ll get a fairer indication of where we’re at,” he said.
The Waves have announced their 2017-18 representative squads bar under 14 and under 16 girls. Those teams will be picked after a final selection trial on November 26.