Meet the junior stars in Darwin for the School Sport Australia cricket titles
The state’s top primary school cricket stars will chase national glory in Darwin from this weekend. Meet the 24 boys and girls chosen from far and wide to represent NSW.
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The best primary school cricketers in NSW will be in the Northern Territory next week to compete in the School Sport Australia 12 Years and Under Championships.
Famous for helping launch the careers of current legends Josh Hazlewood (Bendemeer Public School) and Ash Gardner (Picnic Point Public School), this year's tournament will take place over seven days in Darwin.
Having gone down to Victoria in last year’s final in Ballarat, the boys’ team will be eager to return home with the silverware. While for the girls, it’s another chance to go one better and qualify the final.
Teams were selected from playing groups representing the state’s CIS schools, two Catholic zones and 12 public school regions.
The final squads of 12 were selected in March at the completion of the NSW PSSA cricket championships held across regional NSW. The boys battled for spots in Lismore and Ballina, while the girls headed to Bathurst.
In a memorable moment to wind up preparations at Raby Oval in Sydney’s southwest, former Test star and commentary guru Kerry O’Keeffe made a surprise appearance to present each player with their baggy blue cap.
Played across 40-over formats on turf wickets, NSW kick off the first of their five matches on Sunday. All going well, the state’s top boys and girls will still be there when the finals get underway on Friday 9 June.
Meet the young stars of NSW cricket in our player profiles below.
NSW BOYS: JASON ELLSMORE (COACH: DORCHESTER EDUCATION AND TRAINING UNIT)
ETHAN NATKUNAMANICKAM (THE KING’S SCHOOL)
Backing up after last year’s campaign in Ballarat, the talented all-rounder will be eager to repeat his punishing 45 not out made against Queensland. With the ball, the Wenty Leagues star and Shane Warne fan will be out to bamboozle with his right-arm leg spin.
VIVAAN KANHE (STRATHFIELD SOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL)
Lists Mitch Marsh as his favourite player and is just as lethal on the pitch. A right-hand opener, Vivaan hit a top score of 42 at the recent state championships and while playing for Strathfield last season, bagged 5 for 2 with his sharp inswing.
ARJUN SINGH (JOHN PALMER PUBLIC SCHOOL)
Dependable at the top of the order, the Sachin Tendulkar fan had a memorable trip to Lismore and Ballina. A tournament high of 67 secured his trip to Darwin, before he dismantled Hunter with an assortment of leggies and wrong’uns on the way to a remarkable 5 for 8.
HUGH HANRAHAN (BOWRAL PUBLIC SCHOOL)
The right-arm speedster hopes to follow in the footsteps of prominent Bowral all-rounder Hayden Kerr. A blistering 3 for 2 put Polding on the back foot at the state champs, and with the bat, the Southern Highlands rep held his own at the top of the order.
WILLIAM MALONE (ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE, STRATHFIELD)
A Norths rugby union rep, Will has successfully transferred his no-nonsense attitude to the cricket pitch. A hard hitting middle order specialist, the Concord Briars club man showed no mercy at the state champs blasting a memorable 58 off just 50 deliveries.
JOEL PAGANO (TURRAMURRA PUBLIC SCHOOL)
Among the candidates to take the new ball in Darwin, Joel offers plenty with his right-arm outswing. Useful with the bat, he doesn’t mind kicking a Sherrin either, and represented in AFL at the recent state championships.
KAI LAWS (ENGADINE WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL)
A Shire boy through and through, Kai is a Sutherland reps all-rounder and big fan of Steve Smith. Had a day out against McKillop last March, taking 3 for 1 with his right-arm pace.
CHARLES CLIFFORD (ST IGNATIUS COLLEGE, RIVERVIEW)
Another gifted sportsman, Charles is an AFL state rep with the safest hands in the business. A brick wall behind the stumps, the Lane Cove wicketkeeper didn’t concede a bye during the recent state champs.
SAHARSH SUBRAMANIAN (EPPING PUBLIC SCHOOL)
A surprise packet of the highest order, Saharsh is an effective off spin bowler with either arm. His 4 for 5 in Lismore and Ballina is testament to his ability. And when he mixes it up on tour, this Ravindra Jadeja fan is bound to cause endless headaches for the opposition.
TYSON JANSZ (ST CATHERINE OF SIENNA, PRESTONS)
Loves to build an innings with the bat, and mayhem with the ball. Another Warnie fan, the Oran Park leggie recently took Fairfield to town with a stunning 5 for 23.
ASHER BEHERAM (CANTERBURY SOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL)
Holds Aussie skipper Pat Cummins in high regard and is fast building his own highlights reel. Took 6 for 7 in club cricket last season, and backed up his pace bowling with a belligerent 59 off just 32 balls in a reps trial match.
JAMES SYKES (ST PIUS X COLLEGE, CHATSWOOD)
Blasted an unbeaten 46 for Kissing Point last season, but it’s with the new rock where this smiling assassin is most dangerous. Fronting the attack for Hornsby reps, James’ searing pace returned an eye-watering 5 for 10.
NSW GIRLS: KATE OWEN (COACH: SOUTH COOGEE PUBLIC SCHOOL)
ELYSSA BOLGER (THORNLEIGH WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL)
Delivers right-arm mediums just like her Aussie hero Scott Boland. However this Hornsby rep is much more reliable with the willow. In Bathurst she was virtually unstoppable, hitting two half-centuries.
GAYATHRI NAIK (RIVERSTONE PUBLIC SCHOOL)
Returning for her second U12s tour, Gayathri heads to Darwin in sublime form. The Meg Lanning fan carved out an unbeaten 49 at the state champs then picked up four wickets in another match with her right-arm leg spin.
KAYA KUMAR (SHERWOOD RIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL)
A classy all-rounder and big match performer, this Parramatta rep showcased her A game in the final at the state champs. Captaining Sydney West, the right-hander hit 26 then picked up four wickets with her crafty leggies.
ERA BHOIR (OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY, KELLYVILLE)
A quality lefty at the top of the order, Era paces her innings to the needs of the team. Hit an unbeaten 50 in Bathurst, and showed a rare ability to shape the ball both ways in another contest taking four wickets with her right-arm pace.
ELLA CATTLEY (HOLY CROSS, HELENSBURGH)
Inspired by the pace of Tayla Vlaeminck, this Illawarra right-arm opening bowler had a couple of memorable outings in Bathurst. In one match, her deceptive outswing returned a game changing 4 for 12. Useful in the middle order, she hit a tournament best of 22.
CHARLOTTE SHOEMARK (PERTHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL)
Bats No. 3, and bats very well. Crunched one fifty in Bathurst to cement her seat on the plane to Darwin. Doesn't mind rolling her right-arm over too. The Bathurst City Colts pace ace rocked up on another day of the state champs and delivered a destructive spell of 3 for 2.
POPPI STEPHEN (ST PHILOMENA’S, BATHURST)
Look out Darwin, the way Poppi has been blasting them there might not be a ground big enough. Smashed an astonishing three half-tons at the state champs and showed her all-round class with her right-arm pace. On a rare day off, the Phoebe Litchfield fan loves to unwind on the back of a horse.
LILY RAILZ (ST JOHN’S DUBBO)
A consistent wicket taker with her right-arm mediums, this former soccer and touch footy rep is one to keep an eye on. Just as passionate with the bat, the Western Zone rep is known for punching out scores in the middle and lower order.
ELOISE LAWRY (PYMBLE LADIES COLLEGE)
Eloise kept wickets for the side last year in Ballarat. A miser with the gloves, the Alyssa Healy fan only let through three byes at the state champs. Another gifted sports star, she also represented NSW PSSA in AFL.
RUBY CARLYON (THIRLMERE PUBLIC SCHOOL)
Plays club cricket with the Tahmoor Turtles in summer and rugby league for the Thirlmere Roosters in winter. The right-hander doesn’t relax at the crease either. Admires Alyssa Healy’s brilliance and in Bathurst mirrored her favourite batter with a damaging half century.
AVA DRAGOVIC (SHELLHARBOUR PUBLIC SCHOOL)
An all-rounder like her favourite player Ellyse Perry, Ava is the team’s captain and likes to attack in the middle order and dominate the opposition with her right-arm outswing. Plays with the Warilla club and bring solid form from the state champs.
MATILDA HAYWARD (GYMEA BAY PUBLIC SCHOOL)
A wicketkeeper and middle order batter, Matilda likes to rotate the strike just as she did in her 41 against McKillop last March. Another from the Sutherland Shire, this Gymea cricketer has also represented Sutherland in netball.
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