With the O50's National Championships now rescheduled to late November 2022, the South Australian Veterans Cricket Association has scheduled the annual state game in conjunction with Veterans Cricket Victoria.
The Silverback winning Team Vs Victoria, Mildura 2021
The game will be played in Victoria at the Frankston Peninsula Premier grade ovals on the 15th & 16th March 2022. Victoria is the current National Champions, having won the Division 1 competition in Perth in November 2019.
In March, they will be an extremely tough opponent on their home turf, and the SAVCA selectors are expecting a hard-fought contest. Previous games between the two states have seen the South Australian Silverbacks defeat the Victorians in Adelaide, Mt Gambier & Mildura on the past three occasions.
"The Silverback squad selected is chock full of talent. Our goal is to select two well-balanced teams to take on the Victorians in the two-game series in March. The players selected have been picked on current form. We have one goal, and that is to return home with the Gillespie Sports Shield to South Australia." said Alan Favell, Silverback State Selector.
Richard Gabb will lead the Silverbacks
SAVCA will be sending a solid Division 1 Team captained by Richard Gabb, while Anthony Telfer will lead the Division 2 team. Both Skippers are extremely happy with the squad selected for the games in Melbourne.
Richard, a product of the Silverbacks Premier League which was held at the start of the season, has been in devastating form in his first season playing with the Adelaide Ezy's in the state SAVCA competition.
"I am incredibly honoured & looking forward to leading some awesome blokes and a quality team into battle against the Victorians. I have heard these games are a fierce contest and can't wait to get my first taste of State Cricket," commented Gabb.
The two games in Frankston will be the first opportunity to wear the State's new official Silverbacks uniforms, which have recently arrived. All the players are looking forward to showcasing SAVCA cricket, testing themselves against the National title holders, and wearing the Silverback uniforms with pride.
The new "Blackwoods" Silverback uniforms
Over the next month, the squad will come together for several turf training sessions to fine-tune for what will prove to be a significant challenge. Since late September, the buzz around the place has been electric, and all the players are keen to represent their State. 13 players will represent SAVCA for the first time and are looking forward to their first experience at State level games in Victoria.
Alan Favell, David Crocker & John Rankin
SAVCA State O50’s Selectors
The Silverback Squad taking on the Victorians in March 2022
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