Victoria Country cricket selection

Yarragon cricketer Gamini Kumara has been selected in the Victorian Country Cricket League team of the year.

Kumara scored 745 runs at an average of 93.13 to earn selection in the team as a middle order batsman.

A handy all-rounder, Kumara also picked up 17 wickets at an average of 23.82.

Eight regional teams of the year were originally forwarded to the VCCL to be considered for inclusion in the VCCL team.

The process was adopted by the VCCL as a way of promoting country cricket and its better performers.

It is also seen as a strategy to encourage VCCL selectors to become more familiar with the talented cricketers in all associations in their regions, not just in the major competitions.

The team contains two opening batsmen, four top and middle order bats- men, an all-rounder, a wicketkeeper and four bowlers, at least one of whom has to be a spinner.

Other Gippsland cricketers to make the grade include Sale-Maffra’s Bradley Scott and Leongatha District’s Amila Ratnaike, both scoring more than 700 runs to earn selection as middle order batsmen.

Local pace bowlers were well off the qualifying mark this year with at least 50 wickets required to get a look in.

Leongatha District cricketer Madura Weerasinghe was very close to gaining the spinners position with the same number of wickets as South West’s Matthew Bignell, but at a significantly inferior average.

Members of the 2014-15 VCCL team will be acknowledged at a medallion presentation at the league’s annual general meeting in Melbourne on Sunday August 2.