Sale-Maffra is again well-represented in Victoria Country squads to take part in the Australian Country Cricket Championships.
Those selected for Vic Country play for the Victorian Country Cricket League at championships held annually.
This year, the championships are being held in Newcastle.
Stratford’s Jack Rietschel has again been selected and will be joined by former teammate Jack Wrigglesworth, who moved to Geelong three years ago.
Collegians express bowler Nathan Whitford has been rewarded for his very strong first half of the season (17 wickets), while teammate Zac Hurley has been named an emergency.
Former Melbourne Renegades player Bryaden Stepien is also in the squad.
Stepien has some connection to the area, and filled in a few times for Sale Football-Netball Club reserves in recent years.
Other Gippslanders in the squad are Latrobe Valley pair Lee Stockdale and Nathan Freitag.
Stockdale, a Vic Country regular, will again captain the side.
The women’s squad has also been announced.
Bundalaguah’s Megen Wrigglesworth has won selection and will make her debut for the state.
A prominent representative player for Sale-Maffra, Wrigglesworth is set to continue a long family tradition of higher honour cricket.
Her selection is especially noteworthy, as she has chosen to stay local with Bundalaguah and not align herself with a Victorian Premier Club in Melbourne.
This means the Vic Country women’s team now has a true ‘country’ player from the SMCA.
The team will be coached by well-known coach Keith Jansz, who has worked with many local players across Gippsland.
The championships will be held from January 3, 2024.
