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ARMIDALE and Gunnedah have been forced to make changes to their selected sides for the opening round War Veterans Cup matches on Sunday but Tamworth and Narrabri remain relatively unchanged.
With regular skipper, Andrew Brownlie, unavailable for Sunday’s first game of the WVC season against Narrabri at Armidale Sportsground Armidale has lost three key bowlers – Henry Cupitt, Luke Brown and Mitch Moore – advised Armidale selector Brad King.
“Henry broke down in the first round last week (Armidale first grade),” King said.
“Luke is unavailable for rep cricket at this stage. That’s unfortunate because he bowled really well last week, and took 4-16 in the club game. But he said he just doesn’t have the time at this stage to play rep stuff. He hasn’t even been able to get to any club training yet.
“And Mitch Moore did his rib cartilage playing rugby but did it again playing for us (Hillgrove) last week.
“Cameron Wood’s still out after having his appendix out. He’ll be missing until mid-November. So it’s left us a bit short in the fast bowling department.”
Sam Uphill, Karl Triebe, Schaefer and Matt Morrow will be the pacemen while English recruit, Ben Welch and left arm orthodox Steve Butler will provide the spin. Tamworth selector Adam Jones said Tamworth’s selected side remained unchanged.
“I haven’t heard from Grothy yet about whether Andrew Maher is right,” Jones said yesterday.
“But no news is good news.
“Everyone else seems to be right.”
Tamworth plays a below-strength Gunnedah at Wolseley Park Gunnedah on Sunday.
“It is always a tough game against them, they always seem to be our biggest threat, Jones said.”
With country wicketkeeper Tom Groth unavailable because of his brother’s wedding, vice-captain, Michael Rixon, takes the Tamworth helm and is part of a strong top order including Simon Norvill, Nick Leyden and Kris Halloran. Nick Pearson, James Psarakis and Englishmen Callum Rowe then form a good middle order.
Gunnedah goes into Sunday’s side missing last year’s skipper Ben
Middlebrook, who is not playing rep cricket this season.
James Mack was to have taken over but is unavailable this weekend.
Sam Doubleday will lead them and is chasing a couple of replacements after losing Cameron Milne and Dave Richards out of the side named earlier in the week.
Allrounder Matt Brady is also out, placing more pressure on the likes of fellow allrounder Farran Lamb.
o Turn inside to Page 33 for more War Veteran’s Cup stories.
Lamb will spearhead the attack and on the back of a century in the opening round of grade cricket will be a key with the bat too.
Jarad Smith was another who impressed last weekend and gets his first rep chance.
Narrabri will make the trip to Armidale without regular skipper Lachlan Cameron.
In his absence Daniel Kahl will lead what is a bit of a new-look district first side.
* Turn inside to Page 33 for more WVC.