FIVE Barrier cricketers have been selected on the Murray Districts / Barrier / Sunraysia, or MDBS, side for the 2025 SACA Senior Country Cup, which will be held in Adelaide from Monday, February 3, to Thursday, February 6.
Tobias Hack, who first came down to the tournament as a 17-year-old in 2009 is playing in this competition for a 13th time.
Fellow SA Outbacks cricketers, Brad Rosenzweig, who is currently playing at Nichols Point in the Sunraysia competition will share the captaincy duties with the North Broken Hill wicketkeeper-batsman.
Hack is one of four North Roos cricketers in this year’s squad, including swing bowler Austin Wilson, all-rounder Ben Jurd and quick Michael Maalste.
The fifth Barrier cricketer is aggressive batsman and seam up bowler Sheldon Hall, also noted for this fielding skills, from the Central Broken Hill Magpies.
The team’s scorer will be again dedicated stalwart from the Silver City, Denis Watts.
The quartet of Hack, Jurd, Hall and all-rounder Maalste (after eight rounds) have all made upwards of 200 runs in the Barrier District Cricket Association this season.
Hack and Jurd lead the way with 272 runs each, and both have averages of well above 50, with Hack’s currently sitting 90.67.
Hack is expected to look after with wicket keeping duties and he can also hand the gloves over to Sunraysia cricketer Josh Andrews.
Wilson is currently the leading wicket-taker in the BDCA with 15 scalps at an impressive average of 10.73.
“Reynella has been a happy hunting ground for us over the past couple of years,” Hack said.
“The last time Barrier won was before I was born, although we have sent down a number of very handy cricketers to the Harry Meyer Cup in the period thereafter.
“Speaking with Brad, we have a strong group of rock’n’roll cricketers who are aggressive at the batting crease.
“If it falls in place, we have the capacity to go all the way.
“The opening game against Alice Springs will be a very good test to see where we stand.
“There is strong contingent of our player that are adept at all three of the primary skills – batting, bowling and fielding – which gives up plenty of options.”
The Murray Districts /Barrier/ Sunraysia squad start with a clash against reigning Harry Meyer Cup holders Alice Springs on Monday, February 3, at Reynella Oval.
Their second match in Pool A is on Tuesday against Northern at the same venue, with their round-robin matches completed on Wednesday against South East at Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg Oval.
The grand final on Thursday, between the two top teams, will be played on Karen Rolton Oval on the edge of the Adelaide CBD, while the placing matches will be played on the adjacent Park 25 ovals.
Any players selected in the SACA Country Cup Team of the Championships will play in the Favell / Woon Cup Twenty20 fixture at Adelaide Oval on the day following the event, Friday, February 7.
The MDBS team for 2025: Tobias Hack – captain (North Broken Hill), Brad Rosenzweig – captain (Nichols Point), Josh Andrews (Mildura East), Liam Naylor (Mildura East), Shaun Mathews (Nichols Point), Haydon Thorpe (Parilla), Thomas Wurfel (Mallee), Reece Lehmann (Berri), Austin Wilson (North Broken Hill), Ben Jurd (North Broken Hill), Michael Maalste (North Broken Hill), Sheldon Hall (Central Broken Hill).
