Bradman Cup 2023/24: U16 Country Championships team of the tournament

There were outstanding batters, devastating quicks and some incredibly clever spinners. After a thrilling Bradman Cup, see who made our team of the tournament.

Standout performers from the 2023/34 Bradman Cup.

The 2023/24 Bradman Cup has wrapped up for another season, with North Coastal emerging as dramatic final day victors after a thrilling final day’s action in Wollongong.

Seven rounds of enthralling T20 and one-day cricket action gave us a glimpse at the next-generation of emerging young cricketers from country NSW.

There were outstanding batters, devastating quicks and some incredibly clever spinners who starred for their respective sides.

With the trophy decided and heading north, we’ve crunched the numbers and put together our top XI of the tournament who stood out among the pack.

Check out who made the cut.

HARRY DUNN (CENTRAL NORTH)

Harry Dunn was in fine touch for Central North. Picture: John Appleyard

239 runs at 34.1

The wicketkeeper batsman had a wonderful tournament with the bat, top scoring for his side on three different occasions to finish as the third-highest runscorer across all teams.

Providing the team with great start as opener, the highlights came towards the back end of the carnival, with Dunn scoring a brilliant 83 against Southern Districts in round before backing it up with 63 the very next day against Greater Illawarra.

LUCAS VINCENT (NEWCASTLE)

Lucas Vincent lit up the tournament for Newcastle. Picture: Kevin Merrigan

327 runs at 46.7, 5 wickets at 18.2

The Newcastle gun was almost unstoppable with the bat, finishing the tournament as the highest runscorer with 327 across seven digs.

This included a brilliant 119 against Western as Newcastle amassed a team total of 306, as well as an excellent 82 as the Hunter side defeated the ultimate champs North Coastal in round three.

On top of his excellent batting, Vincent chipped in with some handy left-arm spin, taking five for 18 all up, which included a damaging return of 3-22 from 10 against Greater Illawarra.

BLAKE CATTLE (GREATER ILLAWARRA)

Blake Cattle was the star with bat and ball throughout the tournament. Picture: John Appleyard

305 runs at 76.25, 9 wickets at 13.11

The star performer of the 2023/24 Bradman Cup, Cattle was awarded the inaugural Nathan Lyon Medal as player of the tournament.

The all-rounder, who bats at three and bowls off-spin, grew in confidence with the bat as the carnival went on, scoring a matchwinning 66 not out against Newcastle in round five, before a whopping 123 not out on the final day against Central Coast.

He was also lethal with the ball, taking nine wickets and putting in a game-changing shift against Newcastle where he claimed his best figures of 4-27.

SAM HARWOOD (GREATER ILLAWARRA)

Sam Harwood batting for Greater Illawarra. Picture: Kevin Merrigan

206 runs at 29.42

Often finding himself as Cattle’s partner in crime, Harwood racked up more than 200 runs after some solid performances at the crease.

Either opening the batting or coming in at four, Harwood’s best knock also came on the final day, hitting 61 against Central Coast.

He also fall agonisingly short of a half-century against Southern Districts, dismissed on 49.

ISSAC ROXBURGH (SOUTHERN DISTRICTS)

Issac Roxburgh was a consistent MVP for Southern Districts. Picture: John Appleyard

198 runs at 28.28

While it was tough at the top for Southern Districts in their maiden Bradman Cup voyage, their vice-captain was a diamond in the rough.

Spending considerably more time at the crease than any of his teammates, and often with his back against the wall, Roxburgh was far and away the team’s best with the bat, accumulating 198 across the tournament.

His best knock came against Central Coast where he amassed an impressive 68, followed by a 46 against Riverina.

SAMUEL DAVIS (CENTRAL NORTH)

221 runs at 36.8

An absolute rock in Central North’s middle order, Davis was one of the most reliable players in the tournament.

Getting at least a start in every game, Davis made runs in any type of situation, whether it be pushing hard to lift the scoring rate at the end of a innings or batting with the tail to chase down a total.

TYLER MCINNES (NEWCASTLE)

Tyler McInnes led the way for Newcastle. Picture: Kevin Merrigan

10 wickets at 13 and 118 runs at 29.5

The Newcastle skipper was outstanding as his side fell narrowly short of taking out back-to-back Bradman Cup titles.

A constant threat with his leg-spinners, he finished the tournament as the equal-leading wicket-taker with 10, ending with the remarkable 10-over returns of 3-10 and 2-14 in his final two games.

He also contributed some very handy runs, top scoring with 53 against Greater Illawarra as he finished not out three times.

HARRY ASKEY (CENTRAL COAST)

9 wickets at 11.9

In a tough tournament for the Central Coast, the fast bowler stood out with the ball as he picked up nine wickets.

Leading the attack for his side, Askey’s consistency was his real threat, picking up wickets in all but one game this tournament.

JACKSON TAYLOR (GREATER ILLAWARRA)

8 wickets at 8.87

Pace bowler Taylor makes his way into the team with his eight wickets from six appearances.

His most fruitful spell came on the final day where he recorded a five-wicket haul, conceding just 10 runs and bowling two maidens in a wonderful 6.2 overs of bowling.

ROHAN POWER (NEWCASTLE)

Rohan Power was incredibly damaging once he got going. Picture: John Appleyard

9 wickets at 11.3

In a tournament where, on average, the spinners proved to be more dangerous than the quicks, the right-arm fast bowler was a key strike weapon for the Newcastle side.

With the ability to really trouble the batters, Power tore through the top order in games against North Coastal (3-34) and Western (4-23) to help set his side up for victory.

JAMISON DAWES (NORTH COASTAL)

10 wickets at 11.9

The sole inclusion from the championship-winning North Coastal side, Dawes was the marquee bowler in the side with a joint competition-high wicket tally of 10.

The leg-spinner was responsible for a couple of matchwinning performances, putting up his best figures against Riverina (4-13) and Central Coast (3-12).

All the more impressively, he took his 10 wickets from just five games of bowling.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

With only 11 players to choose in our team of the tournament, inevitably some outstanding performers missed out on a spot.

Perhaps those most unlucky not to be named are spin bowling duo Harrison Deck (Greater Illawarra) and Blayde Burke (Western).

Despite finishing the tournament as equal leading wicket-takers with 10, the brilliant pair narrowly missed out based on the fine margins of averages and runs scored with the bat – given the fact there were so many strong tweakers at the carnival.

Harrison Deck was excellent for Greater Illawarra. Picture: John Appleyard

Another spinner worth a mention is Riverina’s 14-year-old offie Nick Oliver. Playing up an age group, he showed maturity and skill above his years to take nine wickets at an average of 16.7.

Elsewhere, Newcastle left-arm quick Darcy White was excellent with the new ball, taking eight wickets at 12, while the Central Coast’s Hugh Wheeler was one of the team’s best performers with eight poles of his own.

With the bat, another Central Coast player, Koby Smith, overcame a tough start to score 197 runs at 32, highlighted by a stunning 94 against Southern Districts.

Meanwhile North Coastal’s Brody Felton may well have made the XI if he batted in the opening weekend in December, posting 127 runs at 32 across four digs in Wollongong.

And in terms of the all-rounders, Central North’s Keanu Botha showed just how valuable a player he is, scoring 157 runs and taking eight wickets at an average of just eight, while North Coastal’s Riley Weir was also excellent, scoring 152 runs at 25 and then taking seven wickets at 18.