Sport
28 November, 2025
MDCA announce 23-man preliminary squad for senior representative cricket
The Maryborough District Cricket Association (MDCA) has selected its preliminary squad for their upcoming senior representative matches in the Sharp Shield and next year’s Melbourne Country Week.
An initial 23-man squad was officially announced earlier this week, filled with some familiar faces from the team that was mostly successful on the representative circuit last season, with the injection of some exciting fresh blood.
Laanecoorie Dunolly seamer Sam Bartlett will reprise his role as team captain, supported by the last two Ken Gibbs medallists in Bartlett’s teammate Tom Hannett and Beaufort star Lachlan Oddie as vice captains.
Out of the draft of talented cricketers, selectors will pick a 12-man team to try and successfully defend the Sharp Shield against Grenville on Sunday, December 14.
With Colts Phelans duo Max Jackson and Regan Goundry leading the MDCA to restrict Grenville to 9/122, an unbeaten 64 from Beaufort’s Tom Alexander guided the MDCA to surpass the total in 25 overs.
The MDCA followed their Sharp Shield success by being deeply competitive in the Melbourne Country Week’s division two competition, falling just short of the Grand Final and third-place playoff with a 2-2 record.
With international players like Jackson, Goundry and Alexander not returning to the MDCA this season, opportunities have opened for cricketers to break into the team.
The MDCA gives all members of the 2024/25 Team of the Year the right for automatic selection should they wish, with four members exercising that option.
Players currently out of the initial squad can still play their way into the team in time for Melbourne Country Week, which takes place in February.
MDCA Senior Representative Squad
BEAUFORT
Jarrod Blandford: The talented left-hander has been the linchpin of the Bulls’ top order so far this season, surpassing 50 in his last three innings.
Blandford can also contribute with the ball when called upon, spinning his way to six wickets, including key spells against the Colts and Laane.
Lachlan Oddie: While he hasn’t been at his dominating best recently, the two-time Ken Gibbs medallist is as close to an instant inclusion to any MDCA squad, and rightfully so.
Oddie excelled at the represen-tative level last year, scoring the most runs and taking the most wickets for the MDCA during Melbourne Country Week.
Joel Pymer: As a member of the MDCA’s 2024/25 Team of the Year, Pymer has elected to pick up his option to be selected for the squad despite playing one game for the Bulls this campaign.
That shouldn’t discredit the credentials of an elite left-arm quick that took 13 wickets in six games for the Bulls last season.
Theo Trevelyan-Clark: The Englishman has had his struggles acclimatising to Australian conditions, but his performances as of late have convinced the selectors to name him in the squad.
While he can also contribute as a middle-order bat, Trevelyan-Clark has mostly impressed with the ball, taking 10 wickets, including a hat-trick against Maryborough.
Brandon Walsh: Walsh’s return to the home of the Bulls has been nothing short of spectacular.
He currently leads the MDCA’s wicket-taking charts alongside Clunes’ Noah Davies with 16 wickets from his spin bowling, while having an average of 28 with the bat.
CARISBROOK
William Coutts: A staple of Carisbrook’s side since their return to A grade, Coutts is in the form of his life, already close to surpassing last season’s total with 201 runs, good enough for sixth in the MDCA’s run-scoring charts.
Alongside his healthy average of 50.25, Coutts is also a very handy wicketkeeper, recording two stumpings this season.
CLUNES
Ahmed Rehmam: Clunes has been much more competitive this season, and Rehmam is a big reason why.
An entertaining batsman possessing patience and excellent technique, Rehmam is 10th in the MDCA’s run-scoring charts with two fifties to his name.
Mitch Coppick: After a heavily impacted 2024/25 campaign, Coppick is back to his very best as the heart of the Magpies’ batting lineup.
His game-saving 57 not out against Colts Phelans showcased how impactful Coppick can be, tying the match with a four on the final ball to snap Clunes’ long-standing losing streak.
Noah Davies: After being a key contributor to Clunes’ A reserve premiership last season, Davies has burst onto the A grade scene as quickly as his express fast bowling.
With a wicket in all seven games this season, Davies currently holds a joint-lead for wickets taken with 16 breakthroughs in 2025/26.
COLTS PHELANS
Asim Ahktar: Ahktar has quickly emerged as one of the early frontrunners for the Ken Gibbs medal thanks to his game-changing talents.
Joining from the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League, the powerful all-rounder is third in runs scored with 249 runs, while also taking nine wickets.
Rhys Egan: Egan has produced some outstanding performances this season, none more so than his 67 against Beaufort in round one, where he hit seven boundaries.
The inclusion of Egan would give the MDCA some valued flexibility with his ability to bat at the top of the order or at the tail end of the innings and to be a wicketkeeper.
Ben Evans: Last season’s Grand Final best on ground winner has returned from a successful stint in England as a more complete player.
While he remains super dangerous for opposing batters with his spin bowling, Evans has developed into a damaging batter, scoring 71 in the Colts match versus Clunes.
Jack Gallimore: Gallimore is one of two Colts UK imports to be selected for the initial squad, with the seamer living up to expectations.
Gallimore is an exceptionally consistent bowler who does extremely well to limit the run rate while causing regular break-throughs at the top of the order.
Nick Henderson: A key cog in the Colts’ watershed A grade premiership, Henderson has remained one of the league’s most dangerous bowlers after taking 15 wickets last season.
Similar to Gallimore, Henderson is a very dependable fast bowler, already hitting double-digit wickets with an average of 16.9.
MARYBOROUGH
Oliver Bennett: Since arriving at the club from the Northampton-shire County League in England, Bennett has provided a reliable injection of runs to the Owls’ top order.
Bennett’s 236 runs this season, including scoring 78 not out in his first knock in Australia, are a key reason for Maryborough’s successful return to A grade.
Oliver Cassidy: A highly touted prospect in Maryborough’s junior system for a while now, Cassidy has impressed with his quickfire development, ranking fourth in the league’s wicket-takers with 12 wickets.
Cassidy already has a wealth of representative cricket experience, playing for the MDCA and the Central Highlands as well as playing in the Dowling Shield last season.
Ben Hoban: Similar to his home club of Maryborough, Hoban has gotten better after a year hiatus from A grade, forming one of the most deadly opening partnerships in the league alongside Bennett.
Unlike Bennett, Hoban can also do damage with the ball, guiding the Owls to their most recent victory over Clunes with figures of 4/21.
LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY
Sam Bartlett: The MDCA’s senior representative captain is having another dependable season for Laane as a frontline bowler and middle-order bat.
After back-to-back wins in the Sharp Shield, Bartlett will be keen to lift the shield aloft once again in 2025.
Alex Cook: After being one of the most dominating players in the league last season, the MDCA selectors will be glad to see Cook return to Laane for another season.
While he hasn’t been called upon with the bat as much as last year, Cook continues to make an impact as one of the best spinners in the league, already picking up 13 wickets this season.
Josh Fitzpatrick: A major factor in Laanecoorie Dunolly’s sustained success has been their riches in players who can contribute with bat and ball, and Fitzpatrick is no exception.
He can be erratic with the ball on occasion, but once he finds his line and length, Fitzpatrick can cause chaos, taking 11 wickets this season to go along with his 152 runs at the top of the order.
Tom Hannett: In a pool of players flooded with talent, Hannett is one of a select few who could be given the tag of must include.
The reigning Ken Gibbs medallist has maintained his hot form with the bat, averaging 72 over his first seven games, and can play wicketkeeper as he did for the MDCA last season.
Joe Lovel: For the second year running, Lovel has been selected for the MDCA’s initial squad as one of the region’s hottest rising stars.
After a stint playing for Bracebridge Heath Cricket Club in England and previous experience representing the MDCA and Central Highlands Cricket at junior levels, Lovel is keen to break into a talented senior team.
Nafis Shaikh: Shaikh has quickly taken the MDCA by storm as the number three in a stacked Laane batting lineup, leading the competition with 312 runs at an average of 62.4.
Even with his sensational start, Shaikh looks to just be scratching the surface of what he can do, scoring 87 not out in his last innings against Carisbrook.