The supremely talented Kyabram sportsman walked away from the Toyota Australia Country Cricket Championships with a ‘Fielder of the Carnival’ award for his performances in Victoria Country colours, despite being a late call-up to the side.
Mueller was pulled away from Redbacks duties to don the big V at the carnival, held in Newcastle from January 3-9, to represent his state for the very first time.
The ever-versatile Mueller held onto an impressive seven catches in the five games he played for Victoria Country, also making 55 runs from five knocks.
Speaking to the Kyabram Free Press, Mueller said that while he never felt out of place at this level, he was keen to try and get promotion up the batting list at future carnivals.
‘‘I was coming in at nine or ten most of the games when we were chasing quick runs, so it was a bit hard to get settled,“ he said.
Mueller debuted in round two of the championships, taking a catch in a win over Queensland.
The multi-sport jet then chipped in with the willow in Victoria Country’s third match, making a crucial six runs from four balls at nine in a last-gasp triumph against Australian Capital Territory.
Mueller took three grabs in a single game as Victoria Country knocked over Western Australia in round six.
He made his best contribution with the bat the following match with 26 from 28 balls in a beating of South Australia via the Duckworth Lewis method.
He rounded out the carnival with 15 against NSW, and his output for Victoria Country was enough to guarantee his spot at the 2024-25 event.
‘‘I’ve been asked to be available for next year’s carnival, so that’s good,“ he said.
Victoria Country finished the Country Cricket Championships with six wins and three losses from nine games, winding up in third behind Queensland and NSW.
Mueller now returns his services to Kyabram and hopes to be back in action on Thursday night when the Redbacks host Shepparton United in the opening round of Cricket Shepparton’s T20 competition.
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