Premier Cricket, SACA state representatives among top 20 schoolboy SAAS cricketers to watch in 2021/22
Adelaide’s school cricket season is about to begin and we’ve picked out 20 of the best players to watch in the schoolboy T20 competition. See who made the list.
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Some of the future stars of South Australian cricket will be on show when the SAAS T20 Bowl season gets underway this Friday.
From young guns already making waves in first grade Premier Cricket, to those in state squads and others hoping to make their mark, The Messenger has identified the competition’s top 20 players to watch from the division one schools.
CAMPBELL THOMPSON
Scotch
The left-arm quick is part of a formidable attack at Scotch, which is aiming to defend its T20 title from a year ago.
Thompson’s bowling is miserly. His 3.71 economy rate in pool games last season was unmatched and will be key if the school is to go back-to-back.
He also featured in East Torrens’ A grade for the opening three rounds of Premier Cricket’s T20 Cup last weekend.
CARL ARNOLD
Prince Alfred
The Reds’ captain should be a leader for his side with bat and ball as it looks to go one better than last season’s T20 grand final defeat to Scotch.
Along with coming through the ranks at Sturt, Arnold is also part of the under-19 state squad and previously won selection in an Australian under-15 side.
“He’s been developing really nicely as an all-rounder but particularly his batting I think has really come on the last 12 months,” PAC First XI coach Shannon Tubb said.
CORMAC DWYER
St Peter’s
The Saints skipper is an explosive batsman who can cause some damage when he gets going.
St Peter’s assistant coach Barrie Bryan said Dwyer would be key in an even side after showing good signs last season.
“When he gets his eye in and is in a particular mood, he can be very explosive,” Bryan said.
CORMACK O’REILLY
Scotch
One of the top 20-over performers with both bat and ball last summer, Woodville product O’Reilly has plenty of class and the ability to score quickly.
Scotch coach Muditha Maduwantha said the right-hand, top order batsman and right-arm leg spinner would be key for the school in the short format.
DARCY McROSTIE
Pembroke
The wicket keeper-batsman is the star of the Pembroke line-up, having shown his quality at both school level and in Premier Cricket.
McRostie, who dominated with a ton in the Kings’ triumphant 2019 T20 decider, played in A grade grand finals for Kensington in all three formats last season.
“He’s a pretty experienced player who we’ll look to do well and build around,” coach Tom Evans said.
DEAKIN MURPHY
Prince Alfred
A product of Port Pirie, Murphy was PAC’s leading wicket-taker last summer and First XI coach Shannon Tubb said the left-arm orthodox spinner had been going from strength to strength.
“We’re hoping to watch him progress and grow into a leader in our squad this year,” Tubb said.
Murphy – an under-17 state team squad member – is linked to Premier Cricket club Prospect.
HARRY CHAPLIN
Scotch
Bowling all-rounder Chaplin snared 3/19 in Scotch’s T20 grand final win last year and coach Muditha Maduwantha expected the left-arm spinner to be a prolific wicket-taker in both 20-over and Saturday cricket.
“He’s played First XI since Year 8 and has taken lots of wickets for us,” Maduwantha said.
JACK MACHETT
Adelaide High
With a team in each of the two division one pools this season, Adelaide High will have double the chance for top performers to break through.
Kensington and under-17 state representative Matchett, a right-arm quick and strong left-handed batsman, is suited to the T20 format and will be one of many looking to display his quality.
“Jack hits a big ball and we’re expecting him to have a big impact,” Adelaide High cricket program director Phil Hopton said.
The young gun is a dual-sport talent who played in Glenunga’s A grade side in the Adelaide Footy League, which made it to the division two grand final last month.
JAMES REUTHER
Immanuel
Reuther is a quality all-rounder who bowls with pace and is a good striker of the ball, perfectly suited to the short format of the T20 Bowl.
The West Torrens and under-19 state squad representative won the SAAS bowler of the year award in 2019/20.
“I would expect he’ll make a major impact when he plays at school level,” Immanuel coach Andrew Zesers said.
JONTY HIGGINS
Immanuel
The younger brother of Isaac Higgins, who topped the competition runs tally last season, will be looking to follow in his sibling’s footsteps.
Higgins has shown signs of his ability with the bat while also bowling medium pacers and is a strong in the field.
KAIDEN WEBBER
Sacred Heart
A technically sound batsman who hits the ball hard and sweet, coach Graham Sedunary pegged Year 11 student Webber as one who should thrive with more opportunity this season.
“Kaiden is a talented young fella who is an exciting stroke maker,” Sedunary said.
“He probably should have played First XI last year but we had such a strong side and he couldn’t get in.”
KELLY ANGOVE
Westminster
Emerging as one of the top bowlers in the college ranks, Angove bowls with pace, swing and good control and should trouble plenty of batsmen this summer.
“He would be one I would be looking at as someone who’s really going to step up, he’s a talented young cricketer,” Westminster coach Cam Carroll said.
LUKE HOMAN
Rostrevor
New Rostrevor coach Tim Davey identified boarder Luke Homan – from Naracoorte in the South East – as a player to watch this summer.
Expect Homan to take the new ball for Rossies and build on some impressive performances from last season.
REGAN TAHENY
Rostrevor
Eyre Peninsula product Taheny is a leg-spinner and middle order bat, who debuted for Rostrevor’s First XI last year.
Is the younger brother of footballer Cameron Taheny, who spent the past two seasons in the AFL with Geelong.
SEB McVANN
St Peter’s
A member of the SA under-17 state set up, McVann is a tall pace bowler who should be a key for the St Peter’s attack.
“Seb’s played for a little while now and one we’ll looked to lead the way in terms of ability as a quick alongside another in Adam Freeman,” Saints assistant coach Barrie Bryan said.
SEB YOUNG
Westminster
Young is one of the bright stars coming through SA cricket’s state squads as a quality off-spinner.
Will undoubtedly lead the charge for Westminster in between Premier Cricket duties with Sturt, where he has already made an impact in the A grade after debuting in 2019.
TEJAS GILL
Adelaide High
Year 11 batsman Gill will skipper Adelaide High’s top side for the second successive season and looms as a key piece once again.
Already playing first grade Premier Cricket for Adelaide, the left-hander will likely look to anchor the innings for his team and use his experience to provide some stability for big hitters to work off.
THEO HARPER
Pembroke
Pembroke coach Tom Evans described opening bowler Harper as an exciting prospect and said the Year 11 was shaping up for a strong campaign after overcoming a back injury earlier this year.
“Theo’s had a solid pre-season so I think he’s ready to fire and have a big term,” Evans said.
“He’s looked strong and scored a really good half-century in intercol last year, so we’ll be hoping to get a fair bit of cricket out of him this term.”
TOM MANGELSEN
Adelaide High
Mangelsen made an impact with both bat and ball last summer and Adelaide High cricket program director Phil Hopton hoped the Year 11 would continue to progress.
“Tom will open the batting as a left-hander, bowls left-arm mediums but is really suited to T20s,” Hopton said.
WILL PATTON
Sacred Heart
A rising star in both cricket and football, Patton will be one of few returning players to the Sacred Heart set up according to coach Graham Sedunary.
The Adelaide Cricket club batsman made runs in every T20 pool game last season, including a crunching 55 against Immanuel, and is part of SACA’s under-17 squad.
Patton was a regular member of the Buffalo’s A grade line up in Premier Cricket in 2020/21.
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