Top cricketers, potential state representatives to watch this Messenger Bowl T20 competition
Some of SA’s best underage cricketers will take to the field when the 2020 Messenger Bowl begins this Friday. We’ve picked out 20 of the best to watch in the schoolboy T20 competition. SEE THE LIST.
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Some of South Australia’s most talented junior cricketers will be on display when the Messenger Shield college football season gets underway this Friday.
Ahead of potential Redbacks, Strikers, Australian players and other exciting young prospects taking to the field, Messenger sport reporter Daniela Abbracciavento spoke to coaches to identify players to watch from each division one school.
TEJAS GILL
ADELAIDE HIGH
He’s only in Year 10 but already Gill is Adelaide High’s first XI most important player.
Gill will captain the side this year and aim to avenge the school’s 2019 Twenty20 Messenger Bowl final loss.
The left-handed opening batter has “X-factor” according to the school’s cricket manager Phil Hopton and is known for his ability to stand up in big moments.
“We believe he has a skill set to play at a high level,” Hopton said.
Gill made the state under-15 and under-17 sides the past two seasons.
JACK MATCHETT
ADELAIDE HIGH
The rising star bowls fast and can also hit a long ball.
Matchett is also only a Year 10 but, according to Hopton, is “one of the most improved cricketers in his age group”.
The Twenty20 competition suits his style.
The Kensington District Cricket Club member was also part of the state under-15 squad last year.
ISAAC HIGGINS
IMMANUEL
Higgins is part of Glenelg’s Premier Cricket side after making his debut in 2019 and is also a former captain of Immanuel’s team.
The rising star has cricket in his blood, being the son of ex-state cricketer, Ben Higgins.
The right-hand batsman will be looking to take his game up a notch after top scoring at the under-17 national championships in 2019.
OLIVER WILKINSON
IMMANUEL
Wilkinson also lines up with the Seahorses in SA’s Premier Cricket competition.
He is Immanuel’s co-captain this year and is another all rounder with “excellent skills”, according to the school’s sports director Olaf Bode.
The youngster is strong with the bat (right hand) and also a very handy left arm spin bowler.
DARCY MCROSTIE
PEMBROKE
McRostie was Pembroke’s match winner in last season’s final against Adelaide High.
The youngster helped his side create history by beating Adelaide High and winning the school’s first Messenger Bowl T20 trophy.
McRostie’s brilliant innings in that final included eight fours and four sixes.
The Year 11 is a wicket keeper and punishing opening batsman who is set to take his game to another level this year.
McRostie, who also lines up for Kensington, is “clever behind the stumps and can play a wide range of shots,” according to coach Pembroke first XI coach Tom Evans.
McRostie is also part of the under-19 state squad.
JOSH SIMS
PEMBROKE
Sims is Pembroke’s captain this season and has plenty of experience at first XI level.
He bowls quick left arm pace and swings the ball with damaging effect.
Evans said the rising star, who is part of Kensington District Cricket Club, is a “very smart bowler, particularly at the death, and can provide some swashbuckling batting through the middle order”.
Sims is also part of the under-19 state squad.
PAT WECKERT
PRINCE ALFRED
The rising star is a bowling all rounder and is a member of the SACA pathway program.
Weckert is a key member of PAC’s First XI side as he is the quickest bowler in the state for his age group.
The Woodville Cricket Club member has held his own in Emerging Redbacks matches during the pre-season and is likely to star, ripping batters apart during this Messenger Shield Twenty20 season.
CARL ARNOLD
PRINCE ALFRED
Arnold is also part of the SACA pathway program and Sturt Cricket Club.
He is a clean striker of the ball, a handy bowler and an exceptional fielder, according to PAC’s cricket director Sam Knight.
Arnold made 129 runs from five Messenger Bowl games in 2019 and took eight wickets.
SAM RAHALEY
ROSTREVOR
Captain of Rostrevor’s Twenty20 team, Rahaley brings experience and excitement to the team. He is a top-order batsman and off-spin bowler.
The rising star plays A-Grade Club cricket for Kensington and is in the emerging Redbacks side.
He is also in the state under-19 squad and has represented SA and Australia in junior cricket for several years.
MACKENZIE BEST
ROSTREVOR
Best will lead the bowling attack for Rostrevor and prove his versatility as a middle-order batsman.
He is in Port Adelaide’s Premier Cricket side and was also selected in the state under-19 squad.
The youngster has represented SA twice and is a boarder at Rostrevor, after growing up in Wirrulla on the Eyre Peninsula.
WILL PATTON
SACRED HEART
The Adelaide Cricket Club rising star is a middle-order batsman who played First XI last season as a Year 9 at Sacred Heart.
Patton is expected to rise to an even better level this campaign following a strong 2019.
He also bowls off-spin and was effective with the ball in the Messenger Bowl competition and during the Marist Carnival — a competition with schools in SA, Queensland, Victoria ACT, NSW, WA, and New Zealand.
MATT BARNES
SACRED HEART
Barnes is also a member of Adelaide Cricket Club and is a top/middle order batsman.
The youngster found really good, consistent form last season, according to Sacred Heart cricket and football co-ordinator Nicholas Taylor.
“He really values his wicket, and is very skilful and well rounded player,” according to Taylor.
Barnes was also nominated by his peers to be the side’s vice-captain this coming Messenger Bowls season.
At a club level, he wicket keeps, and also bowls spin.
HARRY LEMMEY
SCOTCH
The fast bowling prodigy became one of Sturt’s youngest ever grade cricket debutants when he played his first A-grade game for the Blues at 15 years old in December.
During his debut, he took wickets with his second and fourth balls against Northern Districts.
The right-arm fast bowler and right-hand batsmen is also a member of the Cricket Australia under-15 squad and the state under-19 squad.
Scotch head of cricket Madu Maduwantha said Lemmey’s “pace will present problems to any batsman”.
CORMACK O’RIELLY
SCOTCH
The Woodville all-rounder, who was also in the 2019 state under-15 squad, was a consistent run-scorer for Scotch in all cricket formats.
The right-hand, top order batsman and right-arm leg spinner will be looking to improve on a solid season last year with Scotch and help his side compete against the top schools.
WILL FOLEY
ST MICHAEL’S
Foley is a batsman/wicketkeeper who plays for Woodville’s A grade side in SA’s Premier Cricket competition.
The talented batsman will captain St Michael’s this Messenger Bowl season.
He works hard and is composed during key moments of games.
KOBE BURT
ST MICHAEL’S
Burt is the Henley-based school’s main spin bowler.
He has been the side’s consistent wicket taker over the past few seasons.
The Adelaide University Club member took seven wickets from five Messenger Shield Twenty20 matches last season he also claimed five during a Saturday one-day match for the school against Immanuel in February.
CORMAC DWYER
ST PETER’S
The Year 10 top/middle order batter has been involved in junior state squads for the past few years.
Dwyer played a few First XI matches for Saints last season and, according to the college’s cricket director Stewart Smith, “showed some real promise”.
“We are looking forward to seeing how he goes this year,” Smith said.
JAMES HATTINGH
ST PETER’S
The Kensington Cricket Club member is a leg-spin bowler and starred in the handful of matches he lined up in for Saints’ First XI last season.
Hattingh played four one-day matches for St Peter’s during the 2019/2020 season and took 13 wickets across those matches.
The Year 9 student is certain to develop further this season.
SEB YOUNG
WESTMINSTER
The Westminster captain is a highly-skilled off-spinner and opened the bowling for the team last season.
Young impressed for Sturt’s Premier Cricket side in 2019 and is primed for “what will no doubt be his best season yet”, according to Westminster coach Cam Carroll.
“Seb is a terrific infielder and will be a game changer for us this season,” Carroll said.
COOPER HORTON
WESTMINSTER
Horton is a top-order batsman, right-arm fast bowler.
He is a member of Adelaide University Cricket Club and has gone from strength to strength each year with the bat and ball.
Carroll said Horton played “some outstanding innings last year, can score in all areas and is also an outstanding death bowler”.