EAP Players dominate Australian Country selection

Three Papua New Guineans and one Cook Islander were selected in the Australian Country Representative Team at the 2006 Australian Country Cricket Championships (ACCC) Presentation Dinner held at the Silver Sands Hotel in Mandurah, Western Australia on Saturday 14 January to cap off ICC East Asia - Pacific's (EAP) barnstorming finish to this prestigious tournament.

After wining their final two games against South Australia Country and eventual winners Queensland Country respectively the highest individual honour was bestowed on EAP's John Ovia, Ipi Morea, Rarua Dikana and Dunu Eliaba with selection into the 12 member Australian Country Team. The team is selected based on performances during the tournament with players announced and presented with their `baggy green' caps at Saturday's dinner.

"This is a fantastic achievement for our players" commented EAP Captain Rarua Dikana on behalf of the four EAP players "We are all greatly honoured and privileged to be selected in this team and to receive our baggy green caps. We are very proud to represent our individual countries and EAP and to be selected into the Australian Country Team as well is a huge thrill."

Top order batter John Ovia (Papua New Guinea) was easily EAP's leading batter with 261 runs at an average of 43.50. John had an outstanding tournament holding down the difficult number three batting position with a highest score of 85 against New South Wales Country and a solid 70 against Queensland Country helping to set up the team's winning total. John finished the fourth highest run scorer for the tournament overall.

Ipi Morea (Papua New Guinea) was the outstanding wicketkeeper for the Championships with 16 catches and 3 stumpings. His 19 dismissals led the tournament with Aaron Moore (Queensland Country) in second place five dismissals behind him. Ipi's glove work was excellent throughout all games and his contribution to the team was felt not only in his physical stats but also in the energy and enthusiasm he brought to the team in the field. Ipi also took out the Platypus Sports Fielding Award as the leading fielder in the competition.

EAP skipper Rarua Dikana (Papua New Guinea) was selected based on his all round performances with bat and ball. Dikana finished in fourth place on the wickets tally with 14 wickets at an average of 24.29 and a strike rate of a wicket every 36.93 deliveries. Dikana was the `go to' man for EAP often bowling at the end of games and his marathon 24 overs against Queensland Country in the last game helped to secure victory for the team. Also more than handy with the bat, Dikana scored 145 runs at an average of 29 with his last three innings being 42, 54 and 44.

EAP's main bowling strike weapon Dunu Eliaba (Cook Islanders) was the fourth EAP players selected in the team. Dunu also snared 14 wickets for the carnival at the miserly average of 20.93. He was consistent in each game often being the one to claim the early wicket(s) or stepping up to contain the opposition's leading batters. Dunu's line and length were a highlight throughout the tournament with opposition batters only able to score at 2.71 runs an over against him.

The 2006 Australian Country Cricket Team is a representative team selected from performances during the Championships. East Asia - Pacific players are eligible for selection due to the team not being selected for playing purposes.

2006 Australian Country Cricket Team
Wade Frazer (Queensland Country)
Blake Reynolds (Western Australia Country)
Brian May (Queensland Country) - Captain
Simon Moore (New South Wales Country)
John Ovia (East Asia - Pacific)
Sean Fitzsimmon (Queensland Country)
Ipi Morea (East Asia - Pacific)
Michael Carmody (Western Australia Country)
Rarua Dikana (East Asia - Pacific)
Craig Tonkin (Western Australia Country)
Dunu Eliaba (East Asia - Pacific)
Paul Bradley (Victoria Country)

2006 Australian Country Cricket Championships Final Placings

Queensland Country (54.83 pts)
Victoria Country (51.47)
New South Wales Country (49.24)
East Asia - Pacific (44.20)
Western Australia Country (43.00)
South Australia Country (33.69)

Sir Donald Bradman Batting Award - Simon Moore (New South Wales Country)

WJ Bill O'Reilly Bowling Award - Michael Carmody (Western Australia Country)

Platypus Fielding Award - Ipi Morea (East Asia - Pacific)

ICC EAP Spirit Of Cricket Award - South Australia Country