mmg.com.au

Four teenagers have been included in the KDCA squad for next week’s annual Melbourne Country Cricket Week series.

In what could be the youngest ever squad to represent the KDCA in Melbourne, Kyabram batsman Matt Ryan, 16, Cooma all-rounder Liam Barrett, 15 and 14-year-old Kyabram wicket keeper-batsman Kyle Mueller will make their Country Week debuts for the Kyabram association, which is competing in division two of the series.

Ryan’s 17-year-old all-rounder brother, Brad, is also in the team.

KDCA coach Lawrie Casey said the association had an eye on the future in naming the team.

‘‘Liam, Matt, Kyle and Brad are all outstanding prospects and are certainly talented enough to make an impression and gain valuable experience at this level,’’ Casey said.

The Kyabram team will be led for the first time by Kyabram Cricket Club captain Tom Roberts, who is one of seven players in the squad making their first trip to Melbourne in a KDCA side.

Casey said only three players — Fire Brigade pair Daniel Kent and Scott Hearn, and Kyabram’s Paul Parsons — who represented the KDCA side which made the Provincial Group final three years ago were in this year’s squad.

‘‘Some of our more experienced players can’t make it but we will have some for a couple of matches,’’ he said.

Casey said, while it’s a young squad, he would be disappointed if it doesn’t make an impact in Division 2 of the series after being relegated last season after a winless series in the top tier of the competition, Provincial Group.

‘‘I’ll be disappointed if we don’t win at least three games to be quite honest,’’ Casey said.

‘‘The key will be our batting and we will need to build some good partnerships. With so much youth in the side I expect our fielding to be sharp and I think our bowling attack will be steady.

‘‘Seeing this could be the last time the KDCA plays at Melbourne Country Week because of the possibility of the merger with the Campaspe Association, we will have a lot to play for and I’m sure we can do well.’’

The KDCA squad will have a training session tonight at the Kyabram recreation reserve from 6pm tonight (Wednesday) which will be followed by a barbecue and the presentation of debutant caps.

■The KDCA draw at Melbourne Country Week is:

Monday — v West Gippsland at Dandenong

Tuesday — v Hamilton at Monash University

Wednesday — v Warrnambool at Ivanhoe

Thursday — v Mid West at Melton