The Melbourne Stars Academy have named a 14-player squad for the upcoming Top End T20 Series in Darwin.
Boland, Cartwright among Top End T20 Squad
It will be the third time the Stars have participated in the tournament, which provides invaluable experience in tournament conditions during Melbourne’s winter.
It also forms a key part of the new T20 High Performance program at Cricket Victoria, with opportunities for the next generation of Stars players to work on their T20 skills.
Current Victorian Coach Chris Rogers will coach the side, assisted by Tom Evans and Scott Boland who will also work as a bowling coach.
With lists spots for KFC BBL|14 still to be finalised, Melbourne Stars General Manager Blair Crouch said the tournament is a great chance for developing players to prove they have what it takes at the highest level.
“First of all we’d like to acknowledge the work of the team at NT Cricket and thank them for organising what we believe is the strongest edition of the tournament to date, with the addition of a number of sides.
“It’s a wonderful chance to see the next generation of Melbourne Stars under tournament conditions against high class opposition.”
The Stars Academy will face teams from Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as the Renegades Academy, Scorchers, Strikers and state teams from the ACT, NT and Tasmania.
BBL|14 contracted players Scott Boland and Hilton Cartwright have been named as part of the Academy squad.
Melbourne Stars Academy Squad
Austin Anlezark (Richmond)
Max Birthisel (Footscray)
Scott Boland (Frankston/Peninsula)
Dylan Brasher (Footscray)
Liam Blackford (Geelong)
Ashley Chandrasinghe (Casey-South Melbourne)
Hilton Cartwright (Western Australia)
Sam Elliott (Fitzroy-Doncaster)
Jaga Koduru (Carlton)
Reiley Mark (Richmond)
Joe Medew-Ewen (Northcote)
David Moody (Melbourne)
Arjun Nair (Camberwell)
Connor Rutland (Carlton)
Melbourne Stars Academy Fixtures
Saturday, 10th August
Renegades Academy vs Stars Academy
DXC Arena, Darwin, 10am CST (10:30am AEST)
Sunday, 11th August
Pakistan Shaheens vs Stars Academy
Gardens Oval, Darwin, 3pm CST (3:30pm AEST)
Tuesday, 13th August
Stars Academy vs Strikers
Cazalys Stadium, Darwin, 10am CST (10:30am AEST)
Tuesday, 13th August
Stars Academy vs ACT
Cazalys Stadium, Darwin, 3pm CST (3:30pm AEST)
Wednesday, 14th August
NT Strike vs Stars Academy
DXC Arena, Darwin, 6pm CST (6:30pm AEST)
Friday, 16th August
Tigers vs Stars Academy
TIO Stadium, Darwin, 10am CST (10:30am AEST)