Country Cup: Julian Crudeli, Tom Buchanan missing for Bunbury’s crucial cup clash with Albany in Harvey

Star Eaton all-rounder Julian Crudeli will miss Bunbury’s crucial Country Cup clash on Sunday, while teenage Colts wicket-keeper Brian Hughes has been added to the team — but could play as a batter. Bunbury has revealed its final side for the game against Albany in Harvey, with the winner to book their ticket to the tournament’s grand final at Richardson Park later this month. Leschenault pair Tom Buchanan and Brody D’Agostino also come out of the side that beat Peel to win the country week grand final at the WACA last month, replaced by Hughes, Michael Tassone and Eaton quick Jacob Wintle. Crudeli, whose brother Nathan has been named in Albany’s side for the Harvey clash, was the hero in the country week final, blasting 116 before also taking the first three wickets of the Peel innings. He also leads the Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association’s first-grade competition for wickets and sits second on the run-scoring chart. Only three seamers — Wintle, Liam Renton and Josh Topliss — were named in the side. Wintle was the star in Bunbury’s most recent Country Cup clash, taking four wickets in five balls against the WA Invitational XI. Hughes, who returned to colts this season after a stint at Dalyellup, is the most notable addition to the side, having played for the association’s B-section team at country week last month. It is unlikely he will displace country week wicket-keeper Bradman May, who was named as the wicket-keeper in the team of the country week carnival, but could force a change at the top of the order after May opened alongside Marist’s Ben Clarke. The last time the pair played representative cricket together, May took the gloves. Bunbury coach Anthony Stubberfield told the South Western Times this week his side had a growing rivalry with the Whalers, who defeated them at country week. “There is a bit of a rivalry against Albany,” he said. “So it will be interesting to see how it pans out. “If we play cricket with the right attitude and continue to play as we have been, I think we will be OK.” Sunday’s match is effectively a semifinal, with all four sides on six points after two rounds. Peel will face the WA Invitational XI, which has featured South West products including Tyler King and James Courtney-Bennett, at Lilac Hill, with two winners to play the decider in South Perth on February 27.