THIS week's Australian country carnival in Albury-Wodonga is a home-town affair for Tallangatta's allrounder Steve Wood.

The 40-year-old taxation officer is easily the oldest player in Victoria's squad, joining fellow border players Greg Daniel and Luke Aestall in the 13-man squad.

It is also 17 years between selections for Wood, who previously played in Victoria's 1993 team in Newcastle.

"I'm thrilled to be involved," he said. "I knew the championships were coming to town and was keen to trial and be a part of it."

Known as Chewie, or Chewbacca, because of all his hair, Wood, a father-of-three, is among Victoria's fast-bowling arsenal, still whippy after all these years, as well as being a more than handy No.6 or 7.

The championships start this Saturday and continue to January 15, the two-day games being broken by a day's break, which Wood says will be particularly welcome.

With an "eight-for" to his credit plus a career high score of 209, Wood had five years at Wodonga before joining Tallangatta in 1996.

Previously he played senior club cricket on the Gold Coast against a teenage Andrew Symonds and Matthew Mott.

Wood said the home-town championships would be a highlight of his career, as well as the opportunity to play alongside his son in the same first XI teams at Tallangatta.

"Nick is keen is already a good little player," he said.

Asked his special moment in bush cricket, he cited an innings of 160 against Lavington, which saw Tallangatta chase down 360.

In 2003, he took 7-25 against Wodonga in a grand final, helping Tallangatta to the premiership, despite his team making just 160 batting first.

"We bowled them out for 69 which was also pretty good," he said.

A Collingwood six-footer, Wood says his pre-seasons always revolve around short, sharp uphill sprints, assisting his strength and stamina.

"I just do what I can," he said of his bowling strengths.

"I'd like to think there is still a bit of pace about me."

His bowling opportunities at club level were limited in spring with several wash-outs, but he approached 250 runs for the year after his first four hits, proof he's batting as well as ever.

He said his mates at Tallangatta CC often mimicked Chewbacca and grunt in unison as he's walking back to his mark to bowl.

"Sometimes I have to stop at the head of my run-up. It's very funny," he said.

Ken Piesse's latest book, The Extraordinary Book of Australian Cricket is available from www.cricketbooks.com.au