A RAFT of changes to the Cricket Albury Wodonga representative side have been made ahead of the Plan B Regional Bash this Sunday.
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Coach Robbie Jackson has brought in a number of heavy hitters for the clash with the Southern Riverina Vipers.
Jack Craig and Alex Popko join the Trent Ball-captained side for Sunday's clash, with Jackson looking for solid output from his class players.
“The first round of this competition could be the toughest one,” he said.
“The Vipers look like they'll be more than a handful.
“We'll need to improve on the areas we were lacking in during the Konica Cup last weekend, but I'm confident we'll bounce back.”
Kiewa young gun Ryan de Vries was unlucky not to get a spot in the final 12, Jackson said, with the teenage quick making way for Wodonga batsman Craig.
Former Border star Cade Brown will also be a part of the team as one of two marquee players, the other being Lavington import Jethro Menzies.
“It'd would be fair to say that Twenty20 cricket isn't the style of play that most of these players are used to,” Jackson said.
“That's why it's good to have blokes like Cade in the side, they'll bring that touch of experience we need.
“In saying that, everyone who is playing has earned their spot based on their ability to play at this level.
“Almost all of these guys would have played in the Charity Big Bash in the last few years as well.
“Hopefully we can apply some of the lessons the players will have learned from that competition this weekend.”
The competition forms a potential pathway for talented regional cricketers to be identified by recruiters from Sydney Big Bash teams, the Thunder and the Sixers.
Jackson was anticipating a good crowd at Bilson Park this Sunday.
“The Albury guys have done a great job with the ground, it looks great and hopefully we get a few down to have a look,” he said.
“Playing Twenty20 can be a real art form in a sense, if we get it right we'll be looking pretty good.”
