Club Depth Tested By Absentee Reps
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday November 29, 2008
SEVERAL clubs will have their depth tested in this afternoon's round of Illawarra cricket one-dayers with key players in Gosford with the Illawarra team for the Country Cup.
Premiers Balgownie, who are coming off their first loss of the season, have three players in the Illawarra squad - spinner Jamie Fleming and top-order batsmen Paul Mason and Rob Andonovski. Bally paceman Steve Jones was a last-minute withdrawal from the Illawarra squad due to illness, while Josh Lehane (dislocated shoulder) is out for the season and Ben Toussis is training with the St George Illawrara Dragons. Rain looms as a menace for all clubs, with Bally home to University in a rematch of the premiership final last March. Bally suffered their first defeat of the season when they crumbled with the bat against Helensburgh last weekend, while seventh-placed Uni got their season back on track by beating Port Kembla. Keira will be without three key batsmen - skipper Glenn Prouten, plus Illawarra reps Mark Johnston and Alex Lebsandt - for the clash against Corrimal at Keira Oval. Prouten had to withdraw from the Illawarra team due to illness and confirmed Glen Gibson would skipper the team against Corrimal. The Cougars will also field a weakened side with their own skipper Graeme Batty, new-ball bowler Dean Merola and all-rounder Rob Fisher on Illawarra duty. It's an important game for both teams coming off a win and separated by just one point after five rounds. Meanwhile, Wests and Dapto have players called into the Illawarra squad ahead of their clash at Reed Park. Dapto's Tommi Bozinovski was a late call-up to replace Jones, while Shannon Crewdson (Wests) comes in to replace Prouten.Finally, Helensburgh will be without skipper Andrew Northridge and strike bowler Matt Treuberg for their home clash against Wollongong, while Port Kembla host Northern Districts. Ladder: Balgownie (24), Wests (23), Wollongong (18), Keira (17), Corrimal (16), Dapto (16), University (15), Port Kembla (14), Helensburgh (9), Northern Districts (8).
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury
