UPPER Loddon Cricket Association premiers Kingower has five players in the Loddon Herald’s Team of the Year, including the captain Jayden Leach.
Grand finalist Wedderburn Band has three nominees, Arnold has two, and Boort Yando and Bridgewater have one player each named in the final 12. 
It is a team brimming with all-round talent – Leach and Kingower teammate Matt Rowe were a one-two punch in both the batting aggregate and bowling wicket-takers lists.
There are three players who made centuries during the season – Leach, Arnold opener Heath Lock and Bridgewater’s Harry McKinley, who also takes the wicketkeeping gloves.
The keeper’s spot was a tight call with Arnold veteran Phil Scholes, who made the team for his powerful batting in any case.
Seven players in the team can bowl, including two spinners in Kingower’s Blake Pickles and Wedderburn’s Danny Benaim.
However, the side is so stacked with all-rounders that choosing who gets an over would be a tough decision for any captain.
Leach made 511 runs at 51.1 and took 32 wickets at 8.38 runs apiece. Rowe averaged 38.75 with the bat and took 17 wickets at 16.47 each.
Pickles missed several games but made 188 runs at 47 and claimed 16 scalps at just 6.44 each. His teammate Kyle Simpson, possibly the quickest bowler in the competition, made 314 runs at 34.89 and averaged 18.43 after taking 14 wickets.
Wedderburn’s Isaac Holt collected 163 runs at an average of 27.17 and took 15 wickets at 16.4.
Putting together a batting order was a nightmare.
Leach bats at number three for Kingower but comes in at five in our team.
Scholes either opens or bats at first drop with Arnold, but we have him at number four.
Pickles is chosen at seven, although he had the fourth best batting average in the competition.
Isaac Holt frequently opens for his club side but has been picked at number eight, and Will Holt is often at three for Wedderburn, but he will be bringing his beast of a bat to the crease at number nine.
It is also a team that won’t die wondering.
After measured and skilful openers Rowe and Lock come a series of quick-scoring batsmen in McKinley, Scholes, Leach and Simpson – not to mention Will Holt. Boort Yando’s Jarrod Hodoras makes the team despite not playing until after Christmas, having averaged 11 with the ball and 18.5 with the bat.
Twelfth man is Will Deason from Kingower for his outstanding fielding.
It’s a shame the association no longer takes part in Country Week matches, as there would be plenty of entertainment for the spectators if our team were ever to take the field.