How essay helped rising star Will Salzmann secure his Cricket NSW rookie contract

The extraordinary 3500 word essay and detailed plan which combined to help secure this rising star of Australian cricket his first major contract.

Will Salzmann celebrating a wicket at the U19 World Cup.

Will Salzmann is a teenager with huge talent, a bright future in cricket and perhaps the best sales skills in Australian sport.

The 18-year-old Campbelltown-Camden Ghosts all-rounder and Australian U19 quick has revealed how he managed to convince his reticent parents he should leave school early to concentrate on forging a career in the game he loves.

And the move has paid off with Salzmann on Wednesday awarded a Cricket NSW rookies contract with fellow NSW Premier Cricket young guns Liam Doddrell, Blake Nikitaras, Jack Nisbet, Lachlan Shaw and Hunar Verma.

Will Salzmann at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup playing the West Indies.

“It was a risk leaving school. I had a few difficult conversations with mum and dad. They were initially against it because the original plan was to finish and then do a year of cricket,’’ Salzmann said.

“But my heart wasn’t in school. I wanted to do it now but I had to sell the idea and ironically I ended up writing the best essay I have ever written to my parents on why I had to leave.

“It was 3500 words. I went all out.’’

Young Campbelltown cricketer Will Salzmann.

His ploy, which involved a detailed plan on what he wants to achieve in cricket and off the field, also touched on his desire to be his best and to give to the cricket community.

“I shared with them how much of a desire I have to make it to the top,’’ he said.

“Knowing that cricket will predominantly be my life, but not all of it, I detailed some of the things I wanted to do off the field like coaching junior, having a mentor role with younger school kids, being a leader within the community.

“If I want to do something I won’t die wondering. And I want to encourage other kids younger than I am to find their passion and to follow their dreams.’’

But in the immediate future it is about Salzmann following his own dreams with the Premier Cricket club he has been with since age nine and getting the experience and skills to push for senior selection in the Sheffield Shield, BBL and Marsh One Day Cup arenas.

Blake Nikitaras playing for St George.

CRICKET NSW BLUES CONTRACTED PLAYERS FOR 2022

NSW Blues stars Hayden Kerr and Blake Nikitaras have earned contracts courtesy of great performances last season, including Sheffield Shield debuts.

All-rounder Kerr, who won the Michael Bevan One Day Player of the Tournament Medal, was also the Sydney Sixers BBL Player of the Tournament.

St George opener Nikitaras joined his father Steve as a NSW Sheffield Shield player with a debut which saw him score 44 and 56 in a 5-wicket loss to South Australia.

Joining the young opener from Illawarra as a rookie contract recipient are Australian Under 19 World Cup squad members Lachlan Shaw, Salzmann and squad reserve Liam Doddrell.

Jack Nisbet, also in the Australian Under 19 World Cup squad, and Hunar Verma retained their rookie contracts.

Hayden Kerr celebrates hitting the winning runs with Jay Lenton of the Sixers during the BBL match against the Adelaide Strikers.

“Blake (Nikitaras) took his opportunity in our last Sheffield Shield match with both hands,’’ said Cricket NSW Head of Male Cricket Michael Klinger.

“While he is 22 and older than our other new rookies Lachy Shaw, Will Salzmann and Liam Doddrell, he has demonstrated that a weight of runs or wickets in Premier Cricket, followed up by outstanding Second XI performances, can lead to a professional opportunity.’’

Sean Abbott celebrating after taking the wicket of Ian Cockbain.

Ins: Liam Doddrell (rookie), Ryan Hadley (upgraded), Hayden Kerr, Blake Nikitaras (rookie), Lachlan Shaw (rookie), Will Salzmann (rookie)

Outs: Josh Baraba (rookie – delisted), Harry Conway (SA), Peter Nevill (retired)

CA Contracted Blues: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

Blues Contracts: Sean Abbott, Trent Copeland, Oliver Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Ryan Hackney, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Lachlan Hearne, Moises Henriques, Baxter Holt, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Kurtis Patterson (c), Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Chris Tremain

CNSW Rookies: Liam Doddrell, Blake Nikitaras, Jack Nisbet, Lachlan Shaw, Will Salzmann Hunar Verma