McDONALD’S Tamworth Premier League Twenty20 is all set to start next month after the four franchises – McDonald’s, Joblink Plus, Imperial Hotel and Chris Paterson Stock and Station Agency – selected their 14-man squads at Cricket House on Friday night.

The four captains – Jeff Cook, Josh Hazlewood, Tim Kensell and Don Lewington – with the help of their sponsors and team managers waded through a list of 74 players to select their teams for the inaugural TPL beginning Friday October 10.

There were no real surprises as skippers and sponsors went for a blend of allrounders and established players.

McDonald’s skipper Cook, who has played Twenty20 in England for a number of years, opted for experience in his side which also included first pick South allrounder Gordon Rae, Adam Lole, NSW Under 19 Blake Fitzgerald, City United skipper and wicketkeeper Adrian Sippel, strike bowler Tom Wilson, big-hitting Dean Hoy and talented allrounders Alan Austin and Greg Kellett.

Australian Under 19 star Hazlewood opted for youth with the likes of Old Boys allrounder Andy Mack, Sam Rowlings, junior keeping star Andrew Harriott, multi-talented Jake Hawkins and Peter Orenstein balanced by former Country opener Adam Jones, brilliant allrounder Dave Fisher and West Leagues allrounder Trent Madams.

Imperial skipper Kensell said allrounders were his main target in a side containing master blaster Simon Norvill, wicketkeeper Tom Groth and Old Boys allrounder Ben Middlebrook. Peter Mead, Richard Rowlings and quickscoring Dave Banovich are part of that Brown Fox Lounge-based team.

Paterson said his side was also based on allrounders and youth including South skipper Chris Skilton, Old Boys’ Aaron Hazlewood and North Tamworth trio Brendan Rixon, Kris Halloran and Michael Rixon.

TPL organiser Andrew Peiper said players must play at least two games to qualify for the final, with teams able to bat and bowl 12 players.

Those players not selected into sides go into a reserve pool and can be picked to play for injured or unavailable players on the current rosters.

* Australian Test opener Phil Jaques (not Peter Jaques as reported in Saturday’s Leader) will be in Tamworth on Thursday signing autographs and bats for all cricketers at Struddy’s Sports Store.