URGENT UPDATE: The revitalized Great Southern Carnival kicks off this weekend at Albany’s North Road fields, serving as a crucial warm-up for teams gearing up for cricket’s senior men’s country week. The event, set to take place on January 6-7, 2024, features Albany fielding two competitive sides against teams from Warren Blackwood, Great Southern, Esperance, and Busselton-Margaret River.
Albany’s teams are primed for action, with each squad set to play two Twenty20 matches on Saturday, culminating in a decisive pool game on Sunday morning, followed by a grand final at 12:30 PM. The carnival, formerly known as the ACA Carnival, has been rebranded after fading from memory in the 1990s. This revival marks a significant opportunity for players to prepare on turf wickets ahead of the Perth country week from January 18-23.
Albany and Districts Cricket Association president Ryan Tindale emphasized the importance of this weekend’s event, stating, “I believe it was the longest-running carnival in WA and it used to attract teams from all over the area.” Tindale highlighted the carnival’s evolution from a 50-over competition to its former glory before it ceased operations. “But this is an opportunity to play on turf wickets ahead of country week and should be ideal preparation,” he added.
The atmosphere will be festive, featuring a marquee and food and drink sales in the pavilion. The first Albany team will be led by Railways skipper Coen Marwick, while Royals’ Jack Hastie will captain the second team. Notable players include Lincoln Joy, recently active in the Australian Country Cricket Championships, who will open the batting for Marwick’s side. Young all-rounder Buddy Robinson from Collingwood Park is also in the mix, promising an exciting display of talent.
Marwick expressed enthusiasm for returning to the field after the Christmas break, stating, “It was nice to have a bit of a break but it will be good to get going again. This should be unbelievable prep for country week. We don’t usually get the opportunity to play together before the tournament, so this should be great.”
The lineup for Albany 1 includes: Devon Jefferis, Lincoln Joy, Seb Stanton, Buddy Robinson, Coen Marwick (captain), Alby Berridge, Milan Jaggi, O’Shea Durack, Oli Douglas, Billy O’Meara, Hayden Davies, and Liam Davies. The Albany 2 roster features: Jack Hastie (captain), Lachlan Otway, Cam Walsh, Matthew Thompson, Angus Thompson, Ryan Kinnear, Dylan Belward, Caleb Haua, Mohit Jaggi, Jed Schwarzbach, Ben Grey, and Oli Clark.
With excitement building for the Great Southern Carnival, cricket enthusiasts are urged to stay tuned for the action and support their teams as they vie for glory. This weekend promises to be a significant chapter in the revival of a beloved cricket tradition in Albany.
