WA Cricket looking at expansion of Country Cup after another successful tournament

WA Cricket is considering expanding the Country Cup with regional associations from around the State expressing interest in joining the tournament. College Park in Nedlands hosted the grand final of the tournament’s 2023-24 edition on Sunday with the WA Invitational XI defeating the Bunbury & Districts Cricket Association by eight wickets. The Invitational XI comprises cricketers from outside the Bunbury, Albany and Peel regions as well as players who miss selection for their local sides. The competition once included country cricket associations from all over the State but has taken a stripped-down four-team format in recent years, comprising teams from Bunbury, Albany and Peel and the combined side. WA Cricket country area manager Andrew Hayes said the tournament was now being reviewed, with keen interest to expand. “It nearly died at one stage, but we managed to keep it going with the four teams,” he said. “But now there’s quite a bit of interest being shown by other organisations, especially those from Geraldton and upwards, to get back involved. “We are going through a process of having a look at how we actually do that, because we would like to make it more representative of country cricket across the whole of the State.” Hayes said giving country cricketers the chance to test their skills at a higher level was “very important”. “It’s something that we’ve valued highly over a number of years,” he said. “We’re very fortunate to receive some sponsorship from the State Government through the Belt Up initiatives, and we put some money into it as well to make sure that it comes up to the standard that it needs to be so that players want to play.” The 24 cricketers who participated in the grand final included 16 with links to the BDCA, which Hayes said was “a great reflection on all the hard work that’s been done”.