NARRABRI will have some key figures back on deck but Armidale and Inverell will both be missing some for their second-round McDonald’s Country Plate assignments tomorrow.
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Armidale host Tamworth Blue while Inverell are at home to Narrabri.
The latter were both big first-round victors, with Inverell trouncing Glen Innes by eight wickets and Narrabri belting Moree by 138 runs.
It was Narrabri’s first and only rep game this season after a washout last week and Armidale forfeiting to them the week before.
They will welcome back Ryan Meppem, Michael Miskle and Chris Sargent after being set to be without the trio last week.
“We’re not far off full-strength,” skipper Lachlan Cameron said.
“There’s a good mix there of youth and experience.”
Having not played against them a lot, he doesn’t know too many of the Inverell players but is expecting them to be reasonably tough, especially at home.
The home side almost pulled off a miracle win over Tamworth Blue last week but will be without skipper Lachlan Binnie and Scott Leonard.
They’re also not likely to have young tearaway Tom Scoble.
Scoble strained his back playing club cricket last Saturday and was a late withdrawal from the Northern Bolters.
The bowling though wasn’t where the issue was last week.
The batting was where they let themselves down. It was only some late heroics from Josh Cook that gave the bowlers something to bowl at.
It wasn’t much better against Tamworth the week before as they crumbled under the weight of a brilliant spell from Brendon Reynolds, and a lot will rest on how they perform with the bat.
“We need a bit more application from the top order,” opener Dave Mudaliar said.
“We need to really concentrate and try to get runs on the board.”
As they showed against the Blue they do have a handy attack.
Sage Cook stepped up to take the new ball and earned the praise of both sides for his 3-16.
Armidale, in contrast, are probably a bit light on in the attack.
“We’re a bit light on for strike bowlers,” selector Brad King.
The names missing are many.
“We’ve got players out everywhere,” King said.
Several are switching from bat to club and playing in the annual Armidale Jug.
Central North rep Michael Dawson will be a prized scalp for the Blue with he, skipper Brad Smith and Cody Graham looming as the keys with the bat for the home side.
“Scott Brennan scored a few runs for us (Hillgrove) last week, which was good,” King said.
With the ball, he believes if the wicket is a bit doughy it could suit the likes of Brad Widders and Braden Graham.
There isn’t a lot of rep experience in the attack though.
INVERELL: Dave Mudaliar, Richard Wilson, Josh Cook, Mick Kenny, Joe Smith, Alex Smith, Nick Cumming, Al Walker, Josh Cook. One to be added.
NARRABRI: Lachlan Cameron (c), Nick Smart, Shane Murphy, Chris Sargent, Ryan Meppem, Luke Meppem, Michael Miskle, Ed Pavey, Gareth Lamond, Jake Brayshaw, Nathan Trindall.
ARMIDALE: Brad Smith (c), Michael Dawson, Scott Brennan, Lochie Elks, Cody Graham, Braden Graham, Aaron Whackett, Ben Spence, Brad Widders, Nick Day, John Elliott, Dan Hogan.
TAMWORTH BLUES: Ben Semmler (c), Glenn Lewington, Abel Carney, Tom Fitzgerald, Shawn Mepham, Mackenzie Morrison, Jack Richards, Chaise Crough, Lachie Davidson, Brad Redshaw, Tait Jordan, Cooper Barnes.