Star wars – Victoria v NSW
It is a Test series where the stars of Australian bowls are set to collide.
Victoria’s looming interstate series against New South Wales at Mulgrave Country Club on January 20-21 is likely to pit several Australian Jackaroos against each other, and showcase a stellar cast of bowls’ current stars.
Already NSW have selected their men’s team, which includes recent Asia Pacific men’s singles champion Aron Sherriff and Australian Open champ Aaron Teys.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games hero Matthew Flapper, former world Under 25 champion Dylan Fisher and former Australian Open champion Aaron Wilson head the Victorian senior side, which includes Mulgrave’s Australian rep Barrie Lester given the rare opportunity to play a Test at his home club.
NSW women’s selectors will be able to lean on many of the Jackaroos’ successful Asia Pacific Championships team, including 2014-15’s No.1 ranked Australian female Natasha Scott, superstar Karen Murphy, a veteran of 500 Tests for her country, Asia Pacific champions Kelsey Cottrell and Anne Johns and Australian Open singles winner Ellen Ryan.
Victoria’s women’s selectors also had some selection headaches, with their recent 5-0 Test clean sweep of Tasmania highlighting the depth in their ranks and meaning some of that team would have to miss out.
Carla Odgers has been recalled to the Victorian team to play NSW after missing the Tasmania Test series because of Asia Pacific Championships duty for her country.
Returned State player Lisa Phillips has been in exceptional touch since her Victorian Open heroics in November, and was named joint player of the series in the Tasmania Test series alongside teenager Tiffany Brodie. Both have retained their places.
Victoria’s current Jackaroo Chloe Stewart played against Tasmania, and will be another drawcard for the NSW series.
Victoria and NSW will also do battle in Under 25 competition held in conjunction with the senior clash at Mulgrave.
Victoria’s hectic schedule of Test matches continues with a series against South Australia in February.