NSW Premier Cricket: Poidevin-Gray Shield 2021/22 bumper guide to all clubs and players
The prestigious cricket competition featuring the most talented under-21 players across NSW is set to launch. Meet the potential stars of tomorrow with our mega-guide to the Poidevin-Gray Shield.
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For the best part of a century, the state’s most talented young cricketing prospects have battled for the prize of lifting the prestigious Poidevin-Gray Shield.
Now a new generation – including current BBL stars, established first grade players and a smattering of junior NSW representatives – representing all 20 of Sydney’s grade cricket clubs take part in the 2021/22 competition.
A new flavour will dominate this season’s competition with all five preliminary rounds to be in the T20 format, followed by quarterfinals, semi finals and a grand final in the one-day 50 over format.
Meet the teams and young cricketers ready for action.
SIXERS CONFERENCE
EASTERN SUBURBS
Home ground: Waverley Oval, Bondi Junction
Last season finish: 9th in Sixers Conference
Players to watch: Hailing from the Central Coast, opening bowler Jack Houston is tipped to be a force with his raw speed and aggression expected to trouble opposition batsmen across the summer.
Strengths: The squad has an estimated average age of 17 but has played together for a number of years, including a premiership-winning Green Shield season in recent years. The tight-unit will be united in the pursuit of victory.
Key to success: If the batting unit fires across the season, an area which has caused concerns for the Dolphins in recent times, the young men will be in position to have a tilt at the title.
Squad: Jonah Trope, Mitchell Sciberras (C), Ken Chu, Max Glen, Sam Greenland, Rupert Lillburne, Kristian James, Max Cotter, Matt Sidhu, Ned Patterson, Jack Heuston, Gabriel Quoyle, Matt Hield, Abhinash Tiwary, Akshay Prasan, Angus Hayman, Koda Sissian
Coach: Mark Morley
MANLY-WARRINGAH
Home ground: Manly Oval, Manly
Last season finish: Semi final defeat (2nd in Sixers Conference)
Players to watch: Exciting BBL prospect and Manly-Warringah Poidevin-Gray Shield skipper Ollie Davies will lead the way for the under-21s with his power hitting, showcased through five consecutive sixes in last season’s BBL, expected to play a major role. Davies will be supported by younger brother Joel, who was the recent recipient of a Basil Sellars Scholarship, and NSW under-19 representative and fast bowler Josh Seward.
Strengths: A strong batting unit with the capacity to clear the ropes on small grounds is expected to give the Manly men an advantage, led by skipper Ollie Davies and his brother Joel Davies.
Key to success: The team will work to have clear bowling strategies across the 20 overs with the captain and bowler to work together to execute.
Squad: Ollie Davies (c), Joel Davies (vc), Josh Seward, Jake Osborne, Lachlan Coyte (wk), Oscar Lucius (wk), Evan Dunnachie, Josh Cooper, Ollie Melville, Jack Hobson, Lachie Trewartha, Liam Dinan, Jack Melchiore, James Waddington, Hayden Calvert, Raja Ganeshraj, Keelan Mendel, Seb Bush, Liam Chang, Hayden Williams, Matthew Somerville
Coach: Aiden Baker
RANDWICK PETERSHAM
Home ground: Coogee Oval, Coogee
Last season finish: 8th in Sixers Conference
Players to watch: Current first grade batting all-rounder Ben Mitchell, hailing from Bathurst, is tipped to keep the scorers busy with his power hitting and will form part of the bowling attack with his left arm medium-pacers with handy change-ups. Ghosts recruit and right-arm leg spinner Shivansh Pathak is expected to be dangerous each time he enters the attack.
Strengths: A strong bowling attack with a potent mix of fast bowling and spin options will be supported by an aggressive top-order.
Key to success: Strong starts by the top order batsman will be key in building a platform for success.
SUTHERLAND
Home ground: Glenn McGrath Oval
Last season finish: 7th in Sixers Conference
Players to watch: Dylan Holdstock fresh off an unbeaten 64 runs for the Sharks in second grade is tipped to lead the way with the bat with his class timing. Pace bowler Will Straker will have the ball the talking as he sends down with speed and will be a constant threat to opposition batsmen.
Key to success: Keeping the game plan simple and executing the basic skills well will give the Sharks the best chance to shake up the competition.
SYDNEY
Home ground: Drummoyne Oval, Drummoyne
Last season finish: 5th in Sixers Conference
Players to watch: On a rookie contract with the NSW Blues, young quick Jack Nisbet is expected to feature prominently alongside captain Kain Anderson, an off-spinner from Newcastle who debuted in first grade last season. Fellow first graders Will Fort and Nikhil Ahluwalia are tipped for big Poidevin-Gray seasons.
Strengths: A well-balanced squad equipped to handle most situations with bat and ball will hold the squad in good stead, with the young legs to be aggressive in the field.
Key to success: Having the ability to adapt on the run as the young cricketers familiarise themselves with the T20 format, as well as executing the basic skills.
Round 1 team: Henry Kirk, Cooper Lennox, Will Fort, Nikhil Ahluwalia, Josh Claridge, Cian Egerton, Hayden Forner (wk), Kain Anderson (c), Jack Nisbet, Harrison Townsend, Ellis Sherriff, Dylan Powell
Coach: Dan Smith
GORDON
Home ground: Chatswood Oval, Chatswood
Last season finish: Joint Premiers
Players to watch: Members of the 2021/21 premiership-winning campaign are expected to figure prominently this season, including Connor Cook, Tom Chapman, Callum Bladen, Henry Wines. All-rounder and skipper Connor Cook is tipped to have a strong season with his off spin fizzing in the nets and battling looking set for new heights.
Strengths: The experience of winning a joint-premiership will hold the squad in good stead for the 2021/22 season
Key to success: Mirroring the style of play and form which led to raising the silverware at the end of last season.
Coach: Elliot Richtor
MOSMAN
Home ground: Allan Border Oval, Mosman
Last season finish: 6th
Players to watch: Rising England cricketer Jordan Cox will land in Sydney just in time for the Poidevin-Gray season and is expected to be one of the strongest performers for the Whales. Cox has been turning heads in the county scene and will look to bring his power game to Aussie shores. In-form batsman Shehan Sinnetamby and spinner Stirling McAvoy are also tipped to be strong performers across the summer.
Strengths: A talented top-order stacked with first and second grade experience will give the Mosman men the upper hand in most matches they play.
Key to success: A patient mindset will be key for the Whales with a focus on sticking to their strengths and not try and emulate the tricks of the profressional BBL stars.
UTS NORTH SYDNEY
Home ground: Bon Andrews Oval (North Sydney #2), North Sydney
Last season finish: Semi finals (4th in Sixers Conference)
Players to watch: Current first graders Mac Jenkins and Tim Reynolds are tipped to play key roles for the under-21 team. Jenkins has shown pre-season promise with the bat in hand and his crafty left-arm off spin will ask questions in the field with opening batsman Reynolds capable of parking the ball out of the ground.
Strengths: The team’s spin bowling will trouble opposition batsmen across the Poidevin-Gray competition with the team’s versatility and high number of all-rounders expected to prove valuable in the T20 format.
Key to success: A basic message of keeping it simple and playing with a smile will put the team in good stead across the campaign.
Coach: Aiden Bariol
UNSW
Home ground: David Phillips South, Daceyville
Last season finish: 10th in Sixers Conference
Players to watch: Opening batsman and skipper Jack Attenborough will lead the line up with his aggression at the crease and will be supported by left-hand batsman Ethan Jamieson, recently selected in the NSW under-19 pathways squad. Wicketkeeper batsman Tom Byrnes is tipped to turn heads with his ability to clear the ropes.
Strengths: An aggressive batting unit will put the pressure on the opposition from the outset with a potent spin attack expected to ask plenty of questions.
Key to success: A game-plan of taking the game head-on with frequent boundary hitting will be critical for the Bees this summer.
Round 1 team: Jack Attenboroough (c), Ethan Jamieson, Thomas Byrnes, Jake Greenberg, Nicholas Everitt, Tom Connolly, Menuja Goonaratne, Tyler Grainger-Balding, Sanjit Selverajoo, Lachlan Forrest, Vibu-Sadayappan Karthikeyan, Adam Finklerstein
Coach: Sutha Thanabalasingam
ST GEORGE
Home ground: Hurstville Oval, Hurstville
Last season finish: Preliminary final defeat (3rd in Sixers Conference)
Players to watch: Skipper Josh Moors will lead the squad as an all-rounder, batting in the top order with his crafty leg spin expected to trouble opposition batsmen. Kaleb Phillips, a top-order batsman, is also tipped to be among the runs.
Strengths: A classy bowling attack with a variety of options, the spin bowlers are expected to challenge all batsman who walk to the crease across the summer.
Key to success: The ability to grasp the intricacies of T20 cricket and execute the plan on match day.
Coach: David Williams
THUNDER CONFERENCE
BANKSTOWN
Home ground: Bankstown Oval, Bankstown
Last season finish: Semi final draw (3rd in Thunder Conference)
Players to watch: Coming into the crease at first drop for first grade, Zeshan Ahmed is tipped to be among the top scorers as a former NSW under-19 player. Other first-graders who will take part in the Poidevin-Gray Shield campaign include Sutherland recruit and wicketkeeper Ethan Deal, captain and quick bowler Liam Marshall and his opening bowling partner Brad Simpson.
Strengths: A squad packed with talent and depth, Bankstown will enjoy having two first-grade opening quicks taking part in the under-21 competition. The top five names on the batting order are expected to be a handful to all bowlers.
Key to success: With a squad stacked with talented individuals, the key will be getting all players working on the same game plan to success for the team.
Round 1 team: Zeeshan Ahmed, Ethan Deal (wk), Ethan Debono, Modacer Momandi, Ryan Freeman, Liam Marshall (c), Brad Simpson, Brady Polkinghorne, Koby Leyton, Bryan Handunneththi, Rhys Ward, Johann Perera
Coach: Nick Carruthers
HAWKESBURY
Home ground: Owen Earle Oval, Richmond
Last season finish: 8th in Thunder Conference
Players to watch: Captain Pat Moore, a former member of the NSW Blues under-19 squad and current first grader, is tipped to open the batting and bowling for the Hawks. The athletic cricketer is known to clear the fence. Top order batsman Connor Mizzi is tipped to be among the runs with left arm quick Ben Roughnan expected to trouble batsmen all summer.
Strengths: A focus on local talent will see a united team committed to making the club proud across the Poidevin-Gray Shield campaign.
Key to success: A focus on being as hard to beat as possible by playing intelligent, hard cricket will see the team in the fight each round of the competition.
Coach: Matt Roughnan
PARRAMATTA
Home ground: Merrylands Oval, Merrylands
Last season finish: Joint premiers
Players to watch: Likely the current player with the most Poidevin-Gray Shield appearances in the competition, returning captain Jacob Workman will be a handful with both the bat and ball in hand. Workman will be supported by Hayden Goulstone, Harrison King and AJ Singh.
Strengths: The fact there has only been a single player who is no longer part of the premiership-winning campaign last summer has Parramatta well-positioned for a second tilt at the title. The squad prides itself on being one of the best fielding teams in the competition.
Key to success: A simple philosophy of taking chances and presenting no opportunities to the opposition will ensure Parramatta is hard to beat each weekend.
Coach: Jason Coleman
PENRITH
Home ground: Howell Oval, Penrith
Last season finish: 6th in Thunder Conference
Players to watch: Fresh off an opening round century in second grade, Jordan Watson is tipped to be among the runs as he enters a rich vein of form. Bowling all-rounder Ben Tracey will keep batsman on their toes with his stump-to-stump leg spinners as well as aggressive top-order batsman Ryley Smith.
Strengths: With a squad loaded with all-rounders, Penrith will have an answer to almost every situation across the summer campaign. The depth in talent will also allow the club to select in-form players each round.
Key to success: A genuine belief they are in the top bracket of teams in the competition and to play with that confidence will see the team well-placed to reach the business end of the season.
Squad: Henry Railz (c), Ryley Smith, Edson Whattam, Jordan Watson, Ben Tracey, Conner Potter-Jugovac, Max Becker, Liam Doddrell, Ryan Freeman, Lachlan Morris, Jamie Burns, Cody Robinson, Reegan Wilson.
WESTERN SUBURBS
Home ground: Pratten Park, Ashfield
Last season finish: 9th in Thunder Conference
Players to watch: Captain Tom Brooks, hailing from Scone, will be one of the key players for Western Suburbs with the leg-spinning all-rounder having the ability to get major turn on the ball. Teenage all-rounder Ritish Sethi will also play a vital role, coming in at first drop and bowling spin.
Strengths: A young, enthusiastic group with limited Poidevin-Gray Shield experience could be a positive for Wests this summer campaign.
Key to success: Consistency under pressure will be key for the young squad. The team will need to play to their strengths and execute their basics for a strong year ahead.
Coach: Chadd Porter
CAMPBELLTOWN-CAMDEN
Home ground: Raby Oval, Raby
Last season finish: Preliminary final defeat (2nd in Thunder Conference)
Players to watch: Top-order batsman and Poidevin-Gray skipper Jackson Isakka will play a key role for the Ghosts as the club’s reigning player of the year and will be supported by “thinking” fast bowler Will Salzmann who will also chip in with the bat.
Strengths: A deep batting line up and plenty of options with the ball in hand will give the Ghosts an advantage each time they are in action.
Key to success: The team needs to execute their game plans which will give them the best chance of reaching the final matches of the season.
BLACKTOWN MOUNTIES
Home ground: Joe McAleer Reserve, Glendenning
Last season finish: 7th in Thunder Conference
Players to watch: Towering quick Hunar Verma will lead the pace bowling cartel alongside Tom Draca, a well-built bowler who sends the ball down with venom. Draca is looking to shake off an injury-hampered 2020/21 season and perform strongly. Captain Yianni Theodorakopolous, Gaurav Dogra, leg spinning all-rounder Smith Doshi and batter Harjas Singh are all expected to figure strongly across the summer.
Strengths: A talented fast bowling cartel will be one of the key assets for the Blacktown men during the Poidevin-Gray season with opposition batsmen tipped to be hopping about the crease before being bamboozled by the team’s young spinners.
Key to success: The team needs to bring their abilities to the centrewicket and take the game to the opposition.
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY
Home ground: University Oval, Sydney University
Last season finish: 5th in Thunder Conference
Players to watch: New recruit and current first grader Caelan Malady is expected to open the bowling for the Students’ Poidevin-Gray outfit and bowl at the death after being lured to the club from Randy Petes. Opposition batsmen won’t be able to settle at the crease when skipper Sanjay Anandarajah sends down his off spinners.
Strengths: A high quality bowling attack who boast consistent experience in first and second grade will mean the opposition batsmen won’t get a chance to be comfortable at any stage across the 20 overs.
Key to success: Each player simplying their invidivual roles and completing their jobs will give Sydney Uni the best chance of success.
NORTHERN DISTRICT
Home ground: Asquith Oval, Asquith
Last season finish: Semi final defeat (1st in Thunder Conference)
Players to watch: Three Basil Sellars scholars will see Northern District be a formidable challenge each round of the campaign, led by captain and wicketkeeper-batsman Lachlan Shaw, opening batter Corey Miller and bowling all-rounder Aiden Cahill. One of the younger members of the squad fast bowler Charlie Anderson and first grader Toby Gray is expected to be strong following an injury-affected 2020/21 season.
Strengths: A deep list will provide Northern District with options across the campaign, with many players capable of executing a number of different roles across the team.
Key to success: With a talented squad, the key for Northern District is to delivering the basics and doing the little things across a fast-paced T20 match.
FAIRFIELD-LIVERPOOL
Home ground: Rosedale Oval, Warwick Farm
Last season finish: 10th in Thunder Conference
Players to watch: Skipper Yuvraj Sharma will use his experience in the Lions first grade team to lead the squad and is expected to be a feature heavily with the bat in hand as an aggressive, top-order batsman. Other key figures in the team will be opening batsman Awad Naqvi and all-rounder Cameron Frendo who will bowl crafty left-arm orthodox and bat late in the innings.
Strengths: The team’s hungry bowling attack features a number of players looking to push their claim to rise up the grades alongside the top three batsmen.
Key to success: Strong team performances without a reliance on any individual will be key for Fairfield-Liverpool across the campaign.
Round 1 team: Yuvraj Sharma (c), Nath Sadanandan, Matthew Smith, Brentan Smith, Conor McEwan, Will McNamara, Cameron Frendo, Josh Baraba, Janbaz Saddhar, Yuva Nishchay, Navjot Singh, Zane Chattree
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