Accidental tourist Liam Scott aiming to make big mark in SA cricket
New South Wales’ loss is South Australia’s gain as powerhouse teenager Liam Scott makes an early statement. This week’s wrap of Adelaide cricket in Over The Pickets.
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He’s a 194cm, teenage powerhouse who models his game on former Australian Test allrounder Shane Watson.
And in what looms as a major boost for SA cricket, circumstances have led to him falling into SACA’s grateful lap.
When New South Welshman Liam Scott’s family decided to relocate from Sydney to Brisbane this year for employment reasons, the Australian junior representative — who has played State cricket at under-12, 15, 17 and 19 level — was forced to rethink his bright future.
“It was tough,’’ the 18-year-old conceded.
“It wasn’t a position I expected to be in and I had a lot to weigh up.
“My family was moving to Brisbane, so we looked at all the possibilities for me, what was best long term for me as a person, my cricket and my university studies (bachelor of commerce).
“It wasn’t a decision that was made overnight. I spoke to mum and dad at length and a lot of close mates, along with people who had influenced my cricket over the years.
“It would have taken me close to two months to weigh up all the options and in the end — after discussions with SACA and the offer to be involved in its high performance program — I decided to pack up my stuff and move down here.’’
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Scott, who took 7/22 for NSW Metro against Vic Metro in last year’s under-19 national championships in Adelaide, said his home State “wasn’t overly happy’’ with his decision.
“Because I had come through its pathway program,’’ he said.
“But because its talent pool is so deep it couldn’t give me any (high performance) guarantees, which was a shame.
“SACA has provided me with some exciting opportunities that I wasn’t getting there, which has been a big bonus.’’
Scott has been training with the Redbacks since moving to SA in June.
He is living with one of his dad’s closest friends at Glenelg South and has joined nearby SACA Premier Club Glenelg, partly because of the proximity to his home and also through his friendship with Australian under-16 teammate Josh Hoffmann, who plays for the Seahorses.
Scott has hit the ground running.
In his maiden first-grade match for Glenelg last Saturday he showed just what an impact he could make in SA cricket by thumping 115 opening the batting against Tea Tree Gully and
taking 1/11 off five overs with his fast-medium bowling.
Scott shared a superb, 229-run opening partnership with Ben Bullimore (152) that put the Bulls to the sword on their home deck at Pertaringa.
“It was nice to spend some time in the middle and build a really good partnership with ‘Bulli’,’’ he said.
“To win in such convincing fashion puts a big statement out to the competition about Glenelg this season.’’
Scott, who played first-grade cricket with Sydney before switching States, grew up idolising 59-Test allrounder and limited-overs specialist Watson.
“He’s the player that I have tried to base my game around,’’ he said.
“I’ve loved watching him play, his all-round ability, so he’s had a big influence on the way I go about things.
“I’m also a big fan of (star England allrounder) Ben Stokes.’’
Scott represented the Australian under-19s in a one-day series against New Zealand in July and has set his sights on featuring in the World Cup in South Africa in January.
“That’s my short term goal but hopefully I can also have a good grade season and give myself a chance to earn a Redbacks contract next year, which would be a dream come true,’’ he said.
LEAGUE LEADERS
BEST WITH BAT
MEN
Ben Bullimore (Glen) 152
Liam Scott (Glen) 115
Cam Valente (Adel) 109 no
Bailey Capel (WT) 107
Brad Davis (Sturt) 106 no
Alex Ross (Ken) 86 no
WOMEN
Amanda Wellington (WT) 60 no
Annie O’Neil (Sturt) 45 no
Tahlia McGrath (WT) 40 no
Bridget Patterson (Ken) 31
BEST WITH BALL
MEN
Will Bosisto (Uni) 4/26
Will Daniel (Pros) 4/34
Aaron Summers (Wood) 4/35
Harry Thoman (Wood) 3/13
Harry Cunningham (Glen) 3/17
Humraj Singh (Pros) 3/41
WOMEN
Sarah Lowe (Ken) 3/8
Eliza Doddridge (Ken) 2/4
Shae Daly (Ken) 2/14
Callie Wilson (SD) 2/19
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BEN BULLIMORE
(Glenelg)
The hard-hitting Seahorses batsman smashed a brilliant 152 from 147 balls against Tea Tree Gully at Pertaringa, with 13 fours and three sixes, in his team's thumping 155-run win.
($100 Cricket Warehouse voucher)
CHAMPION PLAYER OF THE SEASON
(Runs 1 pt — Wickets 20 pts)
Cam Valente (Adel) 227
Sam Kerber (Uni) 203
Jake Lehmann (ET) 188
Patrick Page (Adel) 179
Tom Andrews (Wood) 174
Ben Bullimore (Glen) 152
Sunam Gautum (SD) 145
Liam Scott (Glen) 135
($2000 Kookaburra kit for men’s player of the season)