By Nicholas Creely
Victorian Premier Cricket has announced its Twenty20 All-Stars team which plays the Melbourne Stars in the lead-up to the Big Bash League in Dandenong.
The game against the Stars, which will be played on Wednesday 21 November at Shepley Oval from 1pm, is going to be an exciting event, with free entry and a chance to meet such cricketers as Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Kevin Pietersen and T20 legend David Hussey.
Dandenong captain Tom Donnell has been named in the team and is no stranger to big scores in this format of the game after he made a spectacular 114 not-out in just 60 balls only two months ago against Melbourne University.
The skipper hasn’t had a season to remember so far but is a damaging prospect and one to watch.
And he is looking forward to the opportunity to match it with some of Australia’s great T20 stars, even if he didn’t think he wasn’t a chance to be picked at all.
“I was very surprised to be honest – I didn’t think I would be a chance to get picked for any side like this,” Donnell said.
“I’m just looking forward to playing with and against some real quality players.
“I’ve played these games a few times and the standard is so high, which is good to be able to test yourself against the best going around.
“I’ll need a bit of luck but, who knows, I’ll just go out there and try and enjoy it as much as I can.”
Casey-South Melbourne spearhead and former Panther Nathan Lambden has also been named for the second consecutive season after impressing in his first outing last year.
Lambden is a rising star in the Premier ranks and is the current leading wicket-taker for the Swans up to the Christmas break.
The full squad is:
Matthew Brown (captain) – Melbourne Cricket Club
Chris Thewlis – Camberwell Magpies
Tom Smyth – Carlton
Tom Donnell – Dandenong
Solomon Mire – Northcote
Merrick Buchanan – Melbourne
Ian Holland – Ringwood
Aaron Ayre – Essendon
Trent Lawford – Fitzroy-Doncaster
Ryan Sidebottom – Carlton
Ejaaz Alavi – Fitzroy-Doncaster
Nathan Lambden – Casey-South Melbourne
Liam Bowe – Essendon
