Kyabram Cricket Club’s run-making machine Kyle Mueller will represent Victoria for a third time after being named in the Victorian Country Cricket representative side to contest the Australian Country Cricket Championships in South Australia’s Barossa Valley in early January.
Mueller was notified last week of his selection in the 14-player squad after a series of trial games.
He was one of five players from last year’s squad to hold his place in a new-look state team.
He is also one of three Cricket Shepparton players named in the squad, with Central Park-St Brendan’s top-order batter Tyler Larkin and Waaia quick bowler Jesse Trower also earning the nod for a berth in the squad.
Larkin is the son of former Victorian cricketer and Stanhope Cricket Club premiership coach Rohan Larkin.
Mueller was a late call-up for last year’s championships in Newcastle and although he had limited chances to display his sublime batting skills impressed coaches and selectors, particularly with his fielding which won him the Fieldsman of the Carnival accolade.
Mueller, who has made the most runs in the Haisman Shield competition for the past two seasons is in the midst of another heavy run scoring season. He has amassed 447 runs already this season with two centuries and four half centuries at an average 89.2.
Mueller said he was ‘‘deeply honoured’’ to be selected in the team again and to represent his club and Cricket Shepparton in the elite competition.
‘‘In this competition you get the chance to test yourself against the best country cricketers in Australia so that’s a big challenge in itself,“ he said.
The championships run from January 3-10 and comprise of one-day and Twenty-20 games over a seven-day period.