Territorian Tom Menzies selected in Australian under-19s squad

An all-round wunderkind from the NT is in line to become a future Ashes star after being selected in the national men’s under-19s squad.

An ambidextrous all-rounder wunderkid from the Northern Territory is poised to become a future Australian Ashes star after being selected as the youngest member of the national men’s Under 19 team.

Tom Menzies is the first Territorian in more than a decade to be selected to represent his country and will bat and bowl for Australia in the team which will travel to England next month.

The 17-year-old right arm pace bowler is the youngest member of the squad and for a long time has been seen as one of the leading prospects from the NT.

Amazingly, Menzies has also taught himself to bowl left arm spin, which he considers a party trick, and is also a very capable batter.

It was at the under-17 national carnival in Tasmania in January where he burst into the national conversation being named in the Team of Champions.

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Territorian Tom Menzies has been selected in the under-19 Australian cricket squad. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

He took 10 wickets at an average of 21 including hauls of 4/48 and 2/19 while chipping in with the bat as well.

It was those performances that earned him entrance into the national camp, but even then he was caught by surprise when NT head of cricket Darren Treumer called him and his parents in.

“I wasn’t too sure if I would get in at the time, but Darren Treumer called me and my parents in for a meeting,” Menzies said.

“We thought it would be about Strike League or something Darwin based but he handed me a slip of paper and said ‘here Tommy, here is the 16 players selected to go to England’.

“But he had cut my name out with only 15 being on there, he could see I was disappointed, but he then gave over the actual list and I couldn’t be more shocked.

“I was pretty overwhelmed with all this going on and to have my mum and dad there as well was pretty special.”

Menzies has played club cricket in Darwin his whole life rising up the age levels, but it was selection in Strike League which propelled his game to the next level.

There he was teamed up with South Australian and international fast bowler Wes Agar who became an influential figure in Menzies’ development.

Territorian Tom Menzies has been recognised for his talents by the national selectors. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“There’s so many opportunities to play cricket up here in the NT,” Menzies said.

“You get to go down south and compete against other states because there aren’t a lot of numbers here.

“Being in the Cricket 365 program and Strike League last year really kicked things off as I got put in a team with a couple of bowlers from down south.

“I’m starting to develop more now especially with the help of Wes Agar, he has been an influential part of my journey, as well as all the people behind the scenes at Cricket NT.

“Getting to play in that quality competition and getting the opportunity to play in that environment is pretty cool, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

Getting the chance to compete in England will be a big moment for the young gun who has never played outside of the country before, besides a brief training stint in Hong Kong.

But he was licking his lips at getting the chance to use the dukes ball on the swing-friendly decks of England, which he hoped would bring out the best in his game.

“I’ve never been to England in my life, the biggest taste I’ve had of cricket overseas was training in Hong Kong,” Menzies said.

“Getting to use the Dukes ball on bowler friendly decks, if they make them, would definitely be suited to my style as I’m more of a bowler who tries to swing the ball and get wickets early.

“Hopefully I can just take some experience from this and getting the chance to play in Aussie colours is still like ‘oh my god, what’s going on?’ so I’m going to make the most of it and sponge what I can.”

Territorian Tom Menzies shows off his bowling action. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

And maybe the right hand pace bowler will show off his self-taught left handed spin, which while he calls it a party trick is something he has thought about developing into a weapon in the future.

“The left hand is definitely more of a party trick, I’ve only ever bowled it in club games, never in premier grade or Strike League,” he said.

“It’s more of something to do in the nets to muck around, hopefully I get to that level one day where I can bowl with both hands, which would be cool.

“The idea is bowling right hand pace at the start and then bowling left hand spin later on, but that’s just a thought for now.”

Treumer commended the young player not just for his talent but also for his attitude to developing his game, as well as the significant contribution from his parents.

He called it an inspirational piece for any Territorian growing up saying anything was possible as long as they invest in themselves.

“We’re super proud of Tom, he’s really taken the reins on his career over the past 18 months and its morphed into this,” he said.

“No athlete makes the national side without some skill, but the thing about Tom is that he’s a really great kid, he’s smart, he’s respectful, he looks a man in the eye and has a good handshake.

“It just goes to show that irrespective of where you’re born, if you’re determined and have the right mindset as well as the skill, anything is possible.”

Originally published as Territorian Tom Menzies selected in Australian under-19s squad