Introduction
In January 2007 the WA Country Cricket Board in partnership with the WACA, and with support from Cricket Australia, held a Festival of Cricket, to celebrate the anniversary of the first Country Week Carnival in 1907. The Ambassador for the Festival was Australian representative, Brad Hogg, formerly of Williams. To celebrate this milestone of a WA sporting icon there was recognition of significant achievements and the announcement of several initiatives, with most of these occurring at the sell out Dinner for nearly 800 people held on 20 January 2007.

HISTORY
2007 marked the centenary of the foundation of Country Week Cricket in Western Australia. Generations of country cricketers and their families have contributed to the rich tradition and history of Country Week Cricket.

The Early Years (1907-1915)
On 11 February 1907, four teams played for the Sandover Trophy – Brookton, Geraldton, Goomalling and South West, with matches starting at 10.30am, finishing at 6.15pm and comprising eight ball overs. The matches were usually played mid-week under ordinary conditions i.e. no compulsory declarations.

Movie theatre owner, sports store owner & state player Thomas Coombe provided the cricket balls for the first carnival. A Country XI was selected to play a Metro XI, which consisted mainly of state players. Between 1913-15, teams played for the Alcock Cup. The First World War (1914-1918) intervenes.

The Boan Cup

The Growing Years (1920-1941)
After World War One, Country Week cricket grew and by 1936, there were fifty-four teams playing for the Boan Cup. In 1923, Semi-Finals and Finals were introduced with the Finals being played out to a first innings decision – some Finals took two days.

Annual country cricket conferences began and in 1933 a Second Division was introduced. Seven country players were selected to play for Western Australia: Merv Bessen, Wally
Butler, Dick Cantwell, Harold Fidock, Clarrie Fleay, Archie Hardie and Joe Lanigan. Despite the Great Depression in the 1930s there was a strong representation from mining areas of the Goldfields. The Second World War (1939-1945) intervenes.

1947-1978
Country Week cricket resumed in 1947 when forty-seven teams competed and by 1978, that number had grown to seventy-eight. From 1946, touring international teams played regular matches against representative Country XI teams in country centres. These matches were regularly held until 1995, when the demands on international cricket saw the discontinuation of these types of matches.

In 1950, a sectional system was introduced with promotion and relegation a consequence, as more Second XI teams were permitted from 1960 onwards. The hours of play changed as matches began at 10am and ended at 5.30pm. Trophies for batting and bowling averages and aggregates were provided by various sponsors and since 1977, a major sponsor has underwritten the cost of the Country Week carnival. More North-West teams joined.

	The WACA Scoreboard was officially opened in 1954 and made possible by the efforts of the NorWest & Murchison Cricket Association.

Consolidation (1979-)
The game evolved to six ball overs and innings were reduced to 60 overs. Finals were played in one day. The latter years witnessed a downturn in rural areas, contributing to the amalgamation of some districts. In 1979, the management of the carnival was entrusted to the Country Cricket Executive (now the Country Cricket Board) and the annual conference ceased to be held.

In the 1980-81 season, a Country XI team entered the WACA Sunday League competition. In 1982, the carnival was washed out after three days of continual rain. In 1984, the normal Sunday fixtures between the Country XI and State team were discontinued. By 1996, the carnival had changed from being played mid-week to mid-week and now commences on a weekend lasting five days plus the Finals.

Achievements over the Years
Some unusual teams:
1936 Wahkinyup
1950 &1951 Rottnest
1961 Yampi

Highest individual score: Edwin Smith (Goomalling) 227 in 1930
Best individual bowling: Robert Fenwick (Ongerup) 10/36 in 1977
Highest team total: Wickepin 559 against Narrogin in the 1968 Final
Lowest team total: Tambellup-Cranbrook No.2 scored 6 in 1959
Most carnivals played: John Bird 40

Contributions to Country Cricket

• Did you know nearly 20,000 cricketers have played cricket at Country Week?
• About twenty percent of Western Australian First Class cricketers were either born or played in country districts.
• Six Country Week players have played Test cricket for Australia.
• Two Country Week players have played Test cricket for other countries.
• Two Country Week players have represented Australia in matches other than Tests.
• Forty two Country Week players have played for Western Australia.
• Eight Country Week players played for Western Australia while still living in the country.
• Country people contributed fifty percent to the cost of the Test Match Stand, later to be renamed the John Inverarity Stand.
• Cricketers and supporters of the NorWest and Murchison Cricket Association raised funds to build the WACA Scoreboard in 1954.
• Regional coaching schemes were established.
• Junior Country Week was started in 1949 by Keith Carmody.

WA Country 'Team of the Century'
The “Team of the Century” that was announced in January 2007 consisted of 12 players (6 batsmen, 4 bowlers, 1 all rounder and 1 wicket keeper). For selection in the team the following criteria were considered:

• Has played in country WA in his formative years, preferably (not essential) having participated in Junior Country Week and/or Senior Country Week. (This was the over riding, essential criteria)
• Has been an International/Australian and/or WA representative at senior level OR has been a WA Country XI and/or Australian Country XI representative.
• Longevity of performance.

The team:

• Kim Hughes (captain)
• Geoff Marsh (vice captain)
• Murray Goodwin
• Wally Langdon
• John Rutherford
• Barry Shepherd
• Ken MacLeay
• Terry Waldron
• Jo Angel
• Brad Hogg
• Laurie Mayne
• Harry Price

COUNTRY WEEK LEGENDS
During the Centenary celebrations acknowledgement was made of 6 people for their contributions & achievements to the Country Week tradition. These people had all played in at least 30 Country Week carnivals. They have been passionate supporters of grass roots cricket and have been outstanding contributors to country cricket. The recipients of this special award were:

Ted Lockyer who represented Wickepin & Karlgarin-Hyden in his 32 Country Weeks that began in 1953 & finished in 1993. He was a right hand bat & a slow left arm orthodox spinner. He captured 277 wickets at 16.5 with his best performance being 7/20. Once he got the ball in his hands they found it hard to extract it from him.

Charlie Gray who played for Narrogin, Dumbleyung & Lake-Grace Kukerin for 31 Country Weeks stretching from 1940 to 1976. A classical right hand batsman he scored 4242 runs with 9 centuries, averaging just over 30.

Joe Menegola who was the legendary right arm leg spin bowler from Albany. He holds the record for wickets at Country Week with 597 at a very commendable average of 13. His 51 hauls of 5 wickets is also a Country Week record. His best bowling was 8/22 and 8/62 in the same game. He was regularly selected in CXI teams.

John Bird who played for Kent, Narrogin, Dumbleyung & Collie from 1963 to 2006. He has attended a record 40 Country Weeks as a right hand batsman & occasional right arm leg spinner. His longevity in the game has been remarkable. He has had leg problems since childhood & also early in his career cartilage problems developed in one of his knees. John is a former CCB member & has contributed much at the local Association level. He epitomises the spirit of Country Week cricket.

Bob Brennan who played exclusively for Wyalkatchem. He was a right arm medium pace bowler and a left hand batsman. He attended 38 Country Weeks from 1949 to 1989. His forte was tight bowling where he took 361 wickets at 15.6. His best figures were 7/21. His outstanding contribution to his club & Association as an administrator & a player will be difficult to surpass.

Greg Elliot who also played exclusively for Wyalkatchem as a classical right hand batsman & wicket keeper. He has played in 34 Country Weeks from 1967 to 2006. He has scored 3404 runs and made 4 centuries. In recent years he has been Manager of the CXI, including managing the 2003 CXI team that won the Australian Country Cricket Championships.

MLC SCHOLARSHIPS
The purpose of the Scholarships is to support young country cricketers (1 x male, 1 x female, 1 x Aboriginal) who are under 21 years of age, and who show potential to reach State and/or State Country selection.

The Boy’s & Girl’s scholarships have been named in honour of former WA & Australian representatives who have a WA country background. They needed to be a suitable role model.

The Aboriginal scholarship was named in honour of a former Country Week player who was a suitable role model.

Geoff Marsh Scholarship
2007 Riley Miguel
2008 Sam Whiteman
2009 Jacob Whiteaker

Wendy Chaloner Scholarship
2007 Kiandra Sproule
2008 Gemma Triscari
2009 Chloe Piparo

Charlie Sandstone Memorial Scholarship
2007 Jamie Bennell
2008 Hayden Collard
2009 Kirk Ugle

Girls Country Cricket Carnival
In January 2007 the inaugural Girls Country Cricket Carnival was held. This initiative has been followed up annually. During the last two Carnivals, Country versus City matches have been played with the Country girls being victorious on both occasions.

History of Country Week Cricket: 1907-2007
This brief history of Country Week Cricket and the answers to the questions posed at the conclusion can all be read about in the fascinating “100 NOT OUT” book compiled by Bill Reynolds.

100 Not Out
Nearly 20 000 players have participated in Senior Country Week since 1907. The records of every match, team and individual performances have been recorded. At the celebration Dinner, the “100 NOT OUT” book launch took place. This book includes chapters on the history of Country Week, “classic moments”, “classic finals”, Country Week characters and statistics. An additional chapter highlights some of the characters, legends and lighter moments that have made Country Week such a special event for the past 100 years.
This can be purchased from the WACA Online Shop - CLICK HERE.