CENTRAL West Wranglers selector Neil Doherty admits his side will be hard pressed to knock off what is shaping up as a monumental Orana line-up in round one of the Regional Bash in Dubbo on Sunday.
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But if they’re going to spring an upset, it’s going to be in the Twenty20 format.
It’s also going to be with a big helping hand from Bathurst’s finest.
Doherty revealed a Bathurst-heavy, 20-man Wranglers squad ahead of Sunday’s clash, with Rugby Union gun batsman Jameel Qureshi set to skipper the side.
He is one of 14 Bathurst players named in the squad, with Joey Coughlan, Matt Fearnley, Josh Kitchner, Ben Orme, Ben Parsons, Ryan Peacock, Luke Powell, Wayne Sellers, Aaron Seymour, Matt Stephen, Henry Shoemark, Ben Trevor-Jones and Josh Toole also picked.
Trevor-Jones, who plays club cricket for Sydney University, is one of three marquee players alongside Matt White and Josh Bennett.
Doherty believes his men will be competitive against Orana, a side that made last year’s Regional Bash semi-finals at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“It is difficult picking a side without any cricket being played, but based on what we saw last year, these guys deserve their spot,” Doherty said, Orana claiming a 62-run win at Wade Park last year.
“I don’t think we were too far off the pace last season. Twenty20 is one of those games that anything can happen.”
The first round of the Regional Bash will be played on Sunday, the first ball being bowled at 2pm at No.1 Oval.
