The week-long carnival pits the best associations against each other for a week on some of the best grounds in Melbourne.

Sunraysia has been relegated to division four this year after failing to send a side to last year’s carnival.

Opening batsman Tom Vadlja hopes to carry his form into the carnival when he makes his debut for Sunraysia next week.

Vadlja is averaging an impressive 63 with the bat this season for Mildura East, with two centuries already next to his name for the summer.

“I’m definitely looking forward to the competition and also getting away with the rest of the guys,” Valdja said.

“I’d say the strength is in the batting.

“We’re probably down a little bit on bowlers – we’ll probably use a couple of make-shift bowlers.”

Vadlja said Sunraysia hoped to climb back up the Victorian Country Cricket League rankings after failing to win a game in the division two competition in 2010.

“We’re coming up against Shepparton and Albury who are very good areas,” he said.

“They haven’t obviously fielded country week sides either for a couple of years.

“It won’t be any walk in the park that’s for sure.”

Vadlja said the main aim of the carnival this year was for Sunraysia to be promoted to division three for next year.

“That’s primarily why I’ve been asked by the Sunraysia Cricket Association to try to come on board and help build this side back up for future cricketers down the track,” he said.

“It’s definitely an honour and this will be the highest cricket that we can play.

“I’ve always wanted to go down but I haven’t been able to with harvest and also with my gardening business.”

The Sunraysia side will have a number of young players on the rise making their debut next week, including Braidyn Turner, Mark Thomson, Jye Berry and Jessie Marcianno.

Some of the wise heads in the team include captain Richie Wyld, Mark Kerr, Mark Thomson and Vadlja.

Vadlja said Mildura Settlers opening bowler Adam Shepherd would be one to watch with his pace.

“Everyone is committed – if you’ve got committed players you know you’re going to go away with a team that is going to give 100 per cent,” he said.

“If we can just make inroads now and then come back hopefully successful it might then breed some more enthusiasm into the other players in the SCA to put their hand up and play in years to come.”

This article appeared in Wednesday’s Sunraysia Daily 09/02/2012.