Following a meeting of the WA Country Selectors, Beau Manton, Chris Phelps and Lewis Hardy have been named to replace Tony Warren, Doug Ellis and Andrew Dodd in the WA country squad to play at the Australian Country Cricket Championship Carnival in Warrnambool - from Monday 7 January 2002 to Wednesday 16 January 2002.

The WA squad for Warrnambool now reads as follows:

Glen Dehrig (Captain) Bunbury, Brendon King (Vice Captain) Moora, Leigh Burns Mandurah, Mick Carmody Moora, Kris Elliot Wyalkatchem, Lewis Hardy Williams, Nick Herbert Merredin, Jason Partington Lake Grace, Chris Phelps Mandurah, Beau Manton Bunbury, Leigh Sorfleet Bunbury, Paul Tomasi Bunbury, Craig Tonkin Albany.

Coach: Luke Wimbridge; Manager: Greg Elliot; Team Trainer: Steve Smith; Team Scorer: Kevin Burns.

Forced Changes

Three changes were made to the original squad named when Doug Ellis, Andrew Dodd and Tony Warren were forced to declare themselves unavailable due to reasons beyond their immediate control.

Doug Ellis and his wife Kristy are expecting the arrival of their first child; Tony Warren is unavailable due to personal reasons; and Andrew Dodd has declared himself unavailable due to the unforseen development of extra work commitments at his settlement agency.

Replacement Players Beau Manton, 24 year of age from Bunbury, is a right hand batsman and right arm medium pace bowler.

Chris Phelps 24 years old from Mandurah, bowls left arm off-spin and is also a left hand batsman.

Lewis Hardy is 25 years old and, like Tony Warren whom he replaces, is a left hand top order batsman from Williams.

Commenting on the replacement players, WA coach Luke Wimbridge said, "While it is disappointing to lose and hard to replace three players like Tony Warren, Doug Ellis and Andrew Dodd, we've got plenty of faith in the guys replacing them.

"'Rowdy' Phelps has some well disguised variations to his bowling that will prove handy for us bowling teams out.

"Beau Manton is a batting all-rounder who'll give us more options at the selection table. Last season he was named player of the year in the Bunbury association, which is no mean feat, so he's got some good credentials there.

"Lewis Hardy is a top order bat and comes into the squad in great form. He's averaging 100 for his association, around 80 for his club and made a half-century batting at three in our trial game at Bunbury last weekend, so we're expecting a bit from him at the top of the innings. "

Prior to departure (7.00pm on Friday 4 January 2002) Western Warrior's Coach Michael Veletta will present the WA country squad with team tracksuits.

© 2001 Western Australian Cricket Association