Two Horsham Cricket Association stars will have the chance to showcase their skills in bumper Victorian Country Cricket League all-star games.
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Noradjuha-Toolondo's Tony Caccaviello and West Wimmera's Nathan Alexander have been selected to play for West Country against East Country in two challenge matches, with the first of those games at the QEO in Bendigo on January 10 and the second at the Junction Oval - the home of the Victorian cricket - on February 7.
The VCCL has orchestrated the matches as a replacement for the Australian Country Cricket Championships and Melbourne Country Week carnival, which were both cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.
The teams will be managed by former Victoria Country players Jamie Murphy (East) and Heath Pyke (West,) who will be supported by former Victorian player Graham Vimpani.
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The matches have also been pegged as an unofficial early trial for Vic Country's 2022 Australian Country Cricket Championships squad.
"The VCCL has put this program in place to retain its connection with last season's championship-winning squad and, also, to test the abilities of future Victoria Country players in a high-level cricket match," VCCL president Kelvin White said.
"The teams, which were put together by the four region selectors at either end of the state, boast an array of talent that will showcase the best with bat and ball across the 44 country associations in the state."
Caccaviello was a member of the Vic Country team that won gold at the 2020 Australian Country Cricket Championships.
The Bullants all-rounder is one of nine of the championship-winning side who will be in action in the all-star games.
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Alexander is yet to wear state colours at a senior level but previously played for the under-21 Vic Country team.
The pair have impressed with the ball this season; Alexander sitting on top of the wicket-taking charts with 15, just one wicket above Caccaviello.
Alexander has also scored the third-most runs in the competition to date, collecting 250 at 35.71.
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