Murphy skippered the Illawarra representative team in last month‘s  Sydney T20 Cup competition but his job as a police officer has made him unavailable for the three-day country championships in Griffith on November 28-30.

  The Balgownie opener was bitterly disappointed to miss the showpiece carnival of the season.

 ‘‘He’s done his very best to get the time off but just hasn’t been able to get it,’’ Illawarra coach Dean Merola said.

  ‘‘We’ve got a couple of weeks before the championships and Mitch McCrea, a really solid top order bat for Helensburgh will come into the squad.’’

  ‘‘We’ll have a leadership group of Rob Fisher, Dale Sciflett and James Fleming and with the calibre of squad we have I think we should win the title.’’

   The  championships feature the eight country zones who play off in two pools of four teams,  with the pool winners advancing to the December 7 final.

 Newcastle beat Illawarra in last year’s final with the defending champion to take on North Coastal, Central Northern and Central Coast in Ballina next weekend. 

  Illawarra were country kings three years ago and begin their championships against neighbours Southern Zone on Friday November 28, then face Riverina and finally Western Zone.

   Corrimal skipper Fisher didn’t play in the T20 Cup but has been in great touch for his club and will bat in the top three, with Balgownie’s Adam Berwick to be one opener.

   With a lack of a true spearhead in the fast bowling, spin could be vital for Illawarra with Fleming, NSW Country star Jono Cook and teenage Corrimal left-armer Xavier McDevitt hoping to make inroads on the dusty, dry pitches around Griffith.

  ‘‘Xavier bowled tight and straight and did  really well for us on the last day of the T20 comp and all three spinners bring something different,’’ Merola said.

  Illawarra rep squad: Mitch McCrea (Helensburgh), Adam Berwick (Balgownie), Rob Fisher (Corrimal), Olly Thompson (Wests), Mitch Calder (University), Taun Stanham (University), Dale Sciflett (Dapto), Jono Cook (Keira), Neel Honovar (Keira), James Fleming (Balgownie), Xavier McDevitt (Corrimal), Rhys Voysey (University).