Victoria cricket squad member Xavier Crone will return to his home club Strathfieldsaye for Sunday's opening round of the BDCA Twenty20 competition.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Crone, who recently made his one-day debut for Victoria, has been cleared to play as the Jets marquee player for the clash with Kangaroo Flat at Tannery Lane on Sunday morning.
The Carlton fast bowler won't play in the Jets' afternoon game against White Hills at Scott Street, with Camberwell Magpies' keeper-batsman Isaac Conway to take on the marquee player role.
"Xavier played a T20 game for us when he was in his first year at Carlton, but since he's been contracted by the Vics he hasn't been able to come back and play because of managing his workloads,'' Jets' captain Ben Devanny said.
"He's allowed to come up and play a game for us on Sunday which is huge for the club.
"We're looking forward to having him back. It will be great for the younger players at the club, who probably haven't seen him bowl up close.
"Even from my point of view, I haven't seen him bowl for a few years and I'm interested to see what sort of pace he's getting them through at.
"He's been keen for a little while, but he's nursed niggling injuries at this time the last couple of years and he's had Futures League commitments as well.
"He'll play the Kangaroo Flat game and then Isaac will join us for the afternoon game."
Crone will also strengthen the Jets' batting line-up.
"No doubt Xavier will be pushing to get himself up the order,'' Devanny said.
"He's made a couple of 50s in Futures League games and with Carlton, so he certainly hits the ball well.
"Hopefully, he can whack a few around."
Conway, who progressed to Premier Cricket from Sandhurst in the BDCA, is in his first season with Camberwell after previously playing for Essendon.
He's made a bright start with the Magpies making three half-centuries, including a brisk 77 off 60 balls in the Super Slam T20 competition against Prahran.
Crone and Conway are two of several marquee players from Premier Cricket ranks.
Carlton's Brayden Stepien will continue his association with his home club White Hills, while Essendon player James Ryan will be Eaglehawk's marquee player for the second-straight season.
Sandhurst has four former players that coach Taylor Beard is still in negotiations with over its marquee player role - Essendon duo Liam Bowe and Nick Gladman and St Kilda duo Todd Murphy and Damon Egan.
Andrew Chalkley, now playing for Kew, will return to his home club Strathdale, but he is unavailable for this Sunday's opener.
Bendigo United has signed Spring Gully run machine Rhys Webb, while Cricket Shepparton star all-rounder Joel Brett will be Golden Square's marquee player from round two onwards.
Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat and Huntly-North Epsom are still to confirm their marquee players.
The BDCA has moved this year's T20 competition from Tuesday night's to Sundays, with games played in the morning and afternoon on November 17, December 8 and January 5.
The grand final will be played on Wednesday, January 22 at the QEO.
Sunday's T20 fixtures (home teams listed first):
10.30am games
Bendigo United v Eaglehawk
Golden Square v Huntly-North Epsom
White Hills v Strathdale-Maristians
Strathfieldsaye v Kangaroo Flat
2.30pm games
Bendigo United v Golden Square
White Hills v Strathfieldsaye
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.