Cricket ACT is confident a burst local flavour will help 'increase a sense of connection' to the Prime Minister's XI fixture, with Weston Creek Molonglo's Djali Bloomfield named for the Twenty20 showdown.
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Bloomfield will be the first local player to feature in the Prime Minister's XI in four years when they host Sri Lanka at Manuka Oval on October 24.
The fast-bowler joins co-captains Peter Siddle and Dan Christian for the Twenty20 clash after impressing selectors with his promising performances at club level and with the Australian Indigenous team.
Bloomfield took 11 wickets at 15.63 with an economy rate of 7.8 when he represented the ACT Comets in the second level T20 competition last year.
The Prime Minister's XI has not featured a local player since then-ACT Comets batsman Matt Condon faced England in 2015, while Big Bash champion Jono Dean launched his domestic career from the annual fixture.
"To read the [local] names who have previously come through, I need to hopefully do a good job so they're keen to get someone from the ACT to play each year," Bloomfield said.
"I'm stoked to be given the opportunity and hopefully play with some big names, that's for sure."
Bloomsfield was named alongside Brisbane Heat and Australian batsman Chris Lynn on Tuesday, while Daniel Fallins, Fawad Ahmed and Jason Sangha have also been named.
"Hopefully I can pick the brains of Peter Siddle and Dan Christian who are super experienced players," Bloomsfield said.
"I don't know what to think for the moment but I'm sure when I'm standing next to the guys, I'll be star struck and almost thinking, 'what am I doing here playing with these guys?' If I can take something off them that would be great."
Cricket ACT boss James Allsopp hopes the combination of high-profile and local players will combine to help rebuild the hype surrounding the annual clash following a lack of promotion by the governing body last year.
The Prime Minister's XI drew a record low crowd of 1824 last year, but Allsopp is confident a host of big names and the distinct local flavour will help lure fans back to Manuka Oval.
"It gives Canberra an increased sense of connection to the game," Allsopp said.
"It's been stapled as 'Canberra's Test match' for the summer and we've probably gone away from that a little bit in the past, but now there's a local player in the game.
"He's a popular person within our community in terms of what he does with clubs and junior cricket, particularly with indigenous communities. I'd like to think there'll be a number of people coming to support Djali and raise the profile of the match from a local point of view."
Bloomfield will continue to play for Weston Creek Molonglo in the Gallop Cup while juggling his duties with the Prime Minister's XI.