The Cobden export, who is the brother of Bombers star Zach, suited up for his home town in division one of the South West Cricket Association on Saturday. 

Merrett was a star for the Knights in their three-wicket defeat to Heytesbury, finishing with 4-34, including two maidens, from 10 overs. 

The 25-year-old was not as damaging with the bat – Merrett managed two as the Knights were bowled out for 96.

It was the first time since the 2016-17 season that Merrett pulled on the cricket whites to roll the arm over for the Knights’ division one side.

Cobden coach Johno Benallack said Merrett was a welcomed edition to its XI on Saturday.

“It was really good of him to come down and he bowled really well,” he said. “But he also gave a us some added leadership to our side.

“A lot of the boys know him and they asked him a few questions and just watched him. He has white line fever and he was very competitive for us.”

Benallack said he was hopeful Saturday’s cameo was not a once off and that Merrett was welcome to return to play more games.

If the cap fits. It’s proving to be the case for Allansford veteran Ben Boyd who was annointed Vic Country captain for a fourth time on Monday.

Boyd, who will join fellow Warrnambool and District Cricket Association players Cameron Williams, Nick Butters and Ben Threlfall at the Australian Country Cricket Championships in January, says he embraces the challenge.

“It’s my fifth carnival, the first I was vice captain,” he said.

“I’m pumped about it again. We’ve been close to winning the carnival – three times we’ve been second in the four times I’ve been.

“We’ve narrowly missed out on a couple of those occasions so hopefully we find a way to go the whole way.”

Boyd said he was excited to play alongside Williams, Butters and Threlfall.

He said their selection spoke volumes of the WDCA’s standing.

“Before I went the first time, there was a 10-year gap between someone from Warrnambool competing,” Boyd said.

“Now there’s four of us it shows cricket in Warrnambool is rated highly.”

After her heroic ICC World Cup final efforts, Georgia Wareham is starting to become a household name. 

The 19-year-old’s former Western Waves coach Stephen Field, who was coaching in Geelong on Monday night, is experiencing the impact the rising leg-spinner is having on women’s cricket across Australia first-hand.

“She is captivating people all over the place,” he said.

“My daughter Jess, who plays cricket herself, can’t get enough of watching Georgia on TV. She is one example of plenty of girls.

“Working with the under 14s Rockets team in Geelong those girls were all talking about Georgia in that session and none of them would have known her. 

“They would have only known that she was from Mortlake, which is not far away from Geelong.”

BRIERLY-Christ Church recruit Zavier Mungean has earned a late call-up to the Western Waves’ under 18 team.

The Bulls wicket keeper, who has crossed from Warrnambool and District Cricket Association club Nirranda, has replaced Mortlake’s Isaac Wareham in the side for the January tournament.

Wareham is juggling cricket with football commitments. The Terang Mortlake footballer is part of the AFL Academy.

MADDI Tobias might be based in Wodonga now but it hasn’t dented her enthusiasm for the Western Waves.

Tobias will coach the under 17 female team throughout its Cricket Victoria Youth Premier League campaign, which starts in Horsham on Sunday and wraps up with six games in Melbourne in January. The former Warrnambool cricketer said she enjoyed being part of the Waves’ program.

“I love it and because I grew up playing Western Waves, it’s good to give back to the girls and make sure they enjoy it as much as I do,” she said.

The Waves’ under 17 team will play Mallee Murray Bulls on Sunday.

The Waves’ under 14 team, coached by Camperdown-based teacher Grace Lee, will also start its campaign at Horsham.

Nathan Murphy 51 not out (Brierly); Matt Brophy 48 (Allansford); Sashan Silva 44 (Russells Creek); Ryan O’Keefe 30 (Dennington); Jimmy Elford 4-7 (Russells Creek); Jason Greer 4-10 (Brierly-Christ Church); Ben Threlfall 4-11 (West Warrnambool); Chris Cheslin 3-16 (Dennington); Alex Jennings 3-19 (Woodford); Matt Petherick 2011 (Russells Creek).

Rohan Symes 86 (Bookaar); Grant Place 68 (Pomborneit); Tim Keane 51 (Terang); Shane Slater 51 (Mortlake); Simon Baker 45 not out (Bookaar); Jordan Riches 5-25 (Camperdown); Jackson Merrett 4-34 (Cobden); Sam Lenehan 3-14 (Heytesbury Rebels); Isaac Kenna 3-34 (Noorat); Andrew Irvine 2-5 (Heytesbury Rebels); Will Kain 2-11 (Mortlake).

Jeremy Cook 98 (Wangoom); Justin Coates 52 (Grassmere); Stephen Blacker 53 (Woolsthorpe); Harry Sinclair 52 not out (Wangoom); Anthony Martin 51 not out (Killarney); Darren Jones 42 (Killarney); Tim Bryce 6-30 (Panmure); Lachie Glare 3-9 (Hawkesdale); Christo Rook 3-33 (Yambuk); Nathan Shand 3-41 (Panmure); Andrew Malone 2-12 (Wangoom).