LSS: Cricketer Thomas Sowden in spin on way to the top

Leg-spinning all-rounder Thomas Sowden made history last year as the first millennial to play in the top level of the Sydney grade competition - and this year he’s a permanent fixture in Bankstown’s top team.

Thomas Sowden made history last year as the first millennial to play in the top level of the Sydney grade competition. Picture: Virginia Young

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Leg-spinning all-rounder Thomas Sowden made history last year as the first millennial to play in the top level of the Sydney grade competition.

Last season Sowden, then 16, played “a few games” for Bankstown’s first grade — but he’s now a permanent fixture in the team and is fast earning his stripes. In a recent match between Bankstown and Sydney University, he took 4/16 off four overs.

Beyond Bankstown, Sowden’s abilities have seen him selected for the under-17s national carnival in Brisbane last year, where NSW beat Queensland.

In December he was also a member of the NSW under-19s side that placed third in the national carnival in Adelaide.

Following in the steps of Mitchell Starc, Phillip Hughes and Steve Smith, Sowden was last year named as a recipient in the Basil Sellers Scholarship.

His goal is simple — to play for Australia, and he has a plan of action. “In the next couple of years I hope to get a rookie contract for NSW, then I’ll hopefully be able to play some Sheffield Shield games and eventually in five to 10 years I'd like to play for Australia,” he said.

His Bankstown club will be keeping one eye on Sowden.

“We believe Thomas possesses many of the attributes required for potential first class cricketers,” club secretary Martin Klumpp said. “His ability to bat anywhere in the top six of the order with sound technique and aggression, and bowl quality leg spin, makes for a very exciting skill set.”

Sowden is this week’s Local Sports Star nomination, in the category of Junior Sports Star Individual. The program has five categories: Junior Sports Star Individual, Junior Sports Stars Team, Young Sporting Spirit Individual, Young Sporting Spirit Team, and Service to Sport.

Nominate someone at: localsportsstars.com.au.