SOME of the Border’s most talented exports will be on show when Lavington hosts a Victorian Premier Cricket match under lights next month.
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East Albury’s James McNeil will captain Melbourne University against St Kilda in a day-night fixture on October 22 as part of the Bush Bash.
Former Lavington all-rounder Liam Scammell and ex-North Albury speedster Aaron Boyle are also likely to feature for the University outfit in the ninth Victorian Premier Cricket match to be played on the Border.
With former Crows Will McIntosh and James Browning also on Melbourne University’s books, McNeil said Cricket Albury-Wodonga had a strong reputation in Victoria’s capital.
“The boys at Melbourne Uni refer to Cricket Albury-Wodonga as the ‘factory’, they just keep churning out cricketers,” he said.
“It will be great to get back home, I love playing in Albury, I played all my junior cricket and a lot of senior cricket too.
“I’ve spoken to a few of the local coaches and the Cricket Albury-Wodonga competition is only getting stronger.
“Obviously with their results in the Regional Bash last year, they’re the best twenty20 side in the state, so the competition is really strong.”
Scammell has crossed to Melbourne University from Northcote while Boyle has recovered from a left shoulder reconstruction which kept him off the field for a lot of last season.
Cricket Albury-Wodonga chairman Michael Erdeljac said a one-day round, with earlier start times, had been scheduled for the local competition so Border cricketers could watch McNeil, Scammell and Boyle in action against St Kilda.
He said the day-night fixture on the Lavington wicket would act as a perfect warm-up for the Big Bash trial match between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder on December 13.
“The great thing about it is that there will be a lot of Cricket Albury-Wodonga’s best talent playing in the match,” he said.
“Cricket Albury-Wodonga is thrilled to bring this game to Lavington.”
The match will start at 2.30pm.
In other Bush Bash matches, Essendon and Ringwood will lock horns at Wangaratta, Camberwell Magpies and Prahran will meet at Yarrawonga and Geelong will do battle with Kingston Hawthorn at Benalla.
Former North Albury star Joe Loorham plays for Ringwood while Wangaratta export Simon Hill is a key member of Camberwell’s side.