NSW Premier Cricket: We rate Sydney grade’s top XI men’s players after eight rounds of play
The stats are in, and with Sydney’s top cricketers parked up for the festive season, we rate the top performers and name the best XI players. WHO MADE OUR TEAM OF THE YEAR SO FAR?
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Following the completion of eight rounds, the players from all senior NSW Premier Cricket competitions are taking a well earned mid-season break until play returns on Saturday 7 January.
With the availability of player statistics not as readily available as years gone by, we’ve taken the liberty to chase down the data and select the best first grade players from the opening three months of the Belvidere Cup.
From Gordon’s Axel Cahlin (510 runs) to Manly’s Ryan Hadley (29 wickets), we’ve assessed all the top performers from the combined two-day and 50-over datasets to come up with our top XI in batting order.
1 Josh Clarke (Western Suburbs)
With 450 runs, Clarke sits second on the top run scorer list and with a higher average (64.3) than regular Sheffield Shield openers Blake Nikitaras and Ryan Hackney, the Wests lefty is a no-brainer at the top of the order.
Crowned NSW Premier Cricket’s captain of the year in 2021-22, there’s no reason why the Wests skipper shouldn’t lead this XI either.
2 Dan Solway (Bankstown)
Ranked ninth for runs scored, the former Blues top order specialist went head-to-head with Campbelltown Camden part time opener Nick Appleton. But with two tons and a far superior average of 76.2, the reliable Bankstown run machine couldn’t be denied.
3 Yuvraj Sharma (Fairfield Liverpool)
With an eighth round unbeaten 131, Sharma left his run late, but with 403 runs and four scores above fifty, the Lions right-hander joined Clarke as the best performed top-3 regulars before the Christmas break.
4 Brent Williams (Penrith)
A stint in England hasn’t diminished the Penrith veteran’s appetite for big scores. A whopping 188 against UNSW in round four was the biggest of two centuries so far this season.
In what could be considered a contentious selection, special mention goes to James Greenslade, the UTS North Sydney lefty who has three triple-figure scores in just his second season of first grade, and sits just six runs behind Williams on the list.
5 Axel Cahlin (Gordon)
After two seasons with Northern District, Cahlin has returned to Gordon where he holds the record for most runs in a season. His 510 runs to date has him 60 clear at the top of the list, and with 336 in boundaries, the punishing right-hander is the perfect No. 5.
6 Harry Manenti (Sydney)
After an award-winning season in Tasmania, Manenti’s all-round class has been a feature of Sydney’s start to the season. Ranked 14th for runs and averaging a touch over 69, the right-hander has also wove his magic with the ball taking 18 wickets at just 21.7 apiece.
7 Anthony Sams (Randwick Petersham)
After a stellar season for Randy Petes in 2021-22, the loyal 34-year-old is easily the competition’s best performed gloveman with the bat this season. Ranked one spot outside the top 10, his 358 runs at 59.7 include three half tons and a best of 86 not out.
8 Liam Doddrell (Penrith)
We’re not the first team of selectors to notice the young Penrith tearaway with the flowing mullet. Earlier this season, the paceman took the new ball for an NSW/ACT combination against the touring West Indies.
With 19 poles in eight first grade matches, Doddrell’s spot in our XI was fiercely contested by Mosman’s Elijah Eales, the son of former Wallabies captain John. In the end, an impressive average of just 16.3 was enough for the boy from Sydney’s west to hold his spot.
9 Devlin Malone (Sydney University)
In a ding-dong battle of the leggies, Sydney Uni’s Devlin Malone just pipped Blacktown’s Smit Raval. Raval’s 29 wickets is joint top, and while Malone has one less, they both have two five-wicket hauls. In the wash up, Malone’s miserly economy of 2.7 runs per over eventually won the day - almost one-run per over less than his western rival.
10 Ryan Hadley (Manly Warringah)
Averaging 12.1 for each of his chart topping 29 wickets, the Manly speed king’s spot as the new ball leader can’t be questioned. Three five-wicket hauls and a season best 8/48 are testament to the big man’s consistency.
11 Ross Pawson (Northern District)
With almost identical stats to Hadley, Pawson is unopposed as the Manly speedsters new ball partner and a major reason why Northern District sit third on the ladder.
OTHER NOTABLE STATS
Mosman veteran Peter Forrest’s unbeaten 213 against Blacktown Mounties is the highest of the season, and came off just 209 deliveries.
Not to be outdone, in his only hit of the season for UNSW, Thunder keeper Matthew Gilkes exploded at Daceyville clearing the ropes on 12 occasions with a match winning 201 not out.
Despite just one appearance, Gilkes sits third on the sixes list which is headed by Will Affleck’s 18 for Blacktown Mounties.
With more runs, Fairfield-Liverpool’s Arjun Nair could have challenged for an all-rounder spot. With the ball, his four bags of five from eight outings is unmatched.
In total, 29 bowlers have combined for 37 five-wicket hauls. With the bat, 41 individuals have combined to score 51 centuries.
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