Illawarra's under 17 representative cricket side will start its campaign to win a third Watson Shield this Sunday when the team battles Blacktown at Keira Oval.
Illawarra previously won the Watson Shield when it was an U16 competition in 1987-88 and 1996-97.
This is the first season Illawarra has entered the competition since it became an U17 competition as part of the CNSW Youth Championships.
The team will play seven 50 over matches against various Sydney associations including Sutherland, Eastern Suburbs, Bankstown and Fairfield.
The players will play on top Sydney grounds including Trumper Park Oval in Paddington and Glen McGrath Oval at Sutherland.
Illawarra has named a 19 man squad to be captained by Keira all-rounder Joshua Garnero.
Team assistant coach Mark Johnston said the large squad was due to a number of players having commitments with the Illawarra U16s in their Inter-Association competition.
He added the younger players in the squad will gain valuable experience that will build the strength and depth of the squad for future seasons.
Will Badger is the team coach, with Matt Davidson the manager of the Illawarra U17 side.
Cricket Illawarra U17 squad for NSW Youth Championships Watson Shield 2023/24:
- Joshua Garnero (c ) - Keira
- Dominic Batten - Northern Districts
- Riley Broadhead * - Northern Districts
- Blake Cattle * - Keira
- Jack Cattley * - Helensburgh
- Callum Da Costa - Wests Illawarra
- Tyler Davidson - Wests Illawarra
- Harrison Deck * - Keira
- Loughlan Jackson - Keira/Port Kembla
- Logan Jensen * - Keira/Dapto
- Joel Mikleus - Wests Illawarra
- William Muller - Wollongong
- Darcy Norris - Wollongong
- Deep Shah - Balgownie/IPCC
- Oliver Smith - Northern Districts
- Austin Snell - Helensburgh
- Aidan Vardy - Northern Districts
- Finn Warburton - Northern Districts
- Liam White - Wollongong
- denotes players selected in Illawarra U16s who will not be available for U17s when dates clash
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
