GSCA 2024-25: Captain Liam Want bullish about Goannas’ A section promotion chances at senior country week

Great Southern Cricket Association captain Liam Want is bullish on his side’s winning chances in B-section when they head to Perth for the 2025 country week this weekend. The GSCA have named a stacked 12-man squad with 2023-24 cricketer of the year Lewis Barritt, WA Invitational XI opening batter Flynn Cristinelli and three English imports among the star-studded line-up. The competition’s top seven run-scorers have all been named in the side, along with three of the top four wicket-takers. The GSCA are sending three teams with their first team in B-section and their second and third sides in D and E-section respectively. Kojonup skipper Want said he had full faith in his side’s ability to clinch promotion and return to A-section for the first time since 2017. “Hopefully we can go one better and win the week,” he said. “I think we have a very capable side and if we can put our minds to the task and play some good cricket,I reckon we’ve got every chance of hopefully coming home with a not only one, but two or three shields. “We’ve got blokes that can bat and bowl all the way down the team which gives us options and we have a few weapons throughout.” English batter Joe Raynor, gloveman Max Jordison and all-rounder Kane Scott will all play in the top side while Australs North’s Archie Atwell was set to play in the second XI. Attwell has been a late call-up to replace Jakob Douglas. However, they’re sweating on the fitness of Broomehill gun all-rounder Jack Batchelor, who injured his oblique during the Bandicoots’ historic T20 grand final victory. At last year’s tournament, Great Southern made the semifinal where they suffered a punishing 260-run loss by Bunbury and Districts 2. “A few things didn’t go our way that day but we’ve got much the same group so hopefully everyone takes something out of that,” Want said. “It is a long week so hopefully boys can take it a bit out of that and be prepared for what the week is. “It‘s going to be different again this year, we’ll have new plans and a new game style.” They begin their campaign on Sunday at Breckler Park against their 2024 semifinal nemesis, before taking on Geraldton 2 at Hillcrest on Monday and Newman 1 at Charles Veryard Reserve on Wednesday before the finals are played on Thursday and Friday. Great Southern B Section side Liam Want (C) Flynn Cristinelli (VC) James Barritt Lewis Barritt Mac Crichton Jack Batchelor Kane Scott Connor Hawkins Clinton Gilbert Joe Raynor Max Jordison Archie Attwell