SIX Wimmera cricketers will represent the Western Waves at this week's under-14 and under-16 male state championships, starting on Monday in Melbourne.
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The under-14 team boasts five players from the region, Wimmera-Mallee cricketers Joe Reid, Keelan Westerland and Jack Landrigan, Horsham's Dawson Cross and West Wimmera's Louis Preston, while West Wimmera's Todd Alexander is the lone under-16 representative.
Reid, a left arm fast bowler, has been clocked at 106 kilometres per hour, which equals the record for the Waves' under-14s.
Both teams have been pitted in Pool B, alongside the Outer East Eagles, Inner East Emus and Barwon Rockets.
Monday's under-14 match is against the Eagles at Jubilee Park in Ringwood.
On Tuesday the team plays at Dandenong's Schramms Reserve against the Emus, and Wednesday the Waves meet the Rockets at Kardinia Park in Geelong.
The under-16s play the Eagles on Monday at Ringwood's Russell Lucas Oval, before facing Dandenong at Schramms Reserve on Tuesday and the Rockets at Geelong Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
The teams will experience some of the best grounds in metropolitan Melbourne, with the under-16s matches played on Victorian Premier Cricket 1st and 2nd XI grounds, and the under-14s on 3rd and 4th XI grounds.
Western Waves regional manager Stephen Field cast his eye over the Wimmera talent competing at the state championships:
Todd Alexander, Kiata Cricket Club - "Todd's a medium fast bowler and he'll also be required for a bit of lower-order hitting. "
Dawson Cross, Horsham Saints Cricket Club - "Dawson's an all-rounder, and I think he'll be required to bowl a lot if he gets it right he can be pretty dangerous. He's a left-hander, will probably bat at the top of the order and is a pretty integral part of the side."
Louis Preston, Kiata Cricket Club - "Louis is a bit of an all-round type, he bowls off spin, is a quick-scoring batsman and is a good runner between wickets. He's also a really good fielder."
Jack Landrigan, Hopetoun Cricket Club - "Jack's under a bit of an injury cloud, with a back injury from junior country week. I think he'll probably be played mainly as a middle-order bat ."
Keelan Westerland, Donald Cricket Club - "Keelan probably is a real all-rounder. He'll probably be used as a change bowler, a middle-order batsman and as a keeper. He's very handy with the gloves, and also a really good fielder without them."
Joe Reid, Birchip Cricket Club - "Joe is an outstanding talent with the ball, if he gets it right, he could be a real handful he has enormous potential. He scores quickly with the bat, he's strong and can hit the ball over the infield."