U17 National Champs, Ballarat: Meet 28 next-gen cricketers from NSW Metro and Country
The future of Australian cricket is set to gather in Ballarat for the Under-17 Male National Championships. Meet 28 young guns representing NSW Metro and Country.
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The state’s best young cricketers are heading to Ballarat where NSW will field two teams at the Cricket Australia Under-17 Male National Championships between January 4-11.
After a shock loss to Queensland in last season’s decider, NSW Metro will be focused on taking the next step. While a strong NSW Country squad will head south promising plenty of surprises.
With all matches following the 50-over format, 10 teams will compete in four preliminary rounds before two days of finals. The top four sides will push for state glory, while the remainder jostle for minor placings.
From Thursday follow all games live: SCORES and VIDEO
Meet the metro and country stars who will represent NSW in Ballarat.
NSW METRO
Blessed with a talented batting line up Metro won’t be lacking in firepower when it comes to putting runs on the board in Ballarat.
With many in the squad already pushing their claims on the Sydney grade scene, for Metro assistant coach Lee Kirk there is plenty to look forward to.
“The squad’s batting is very strong, and along with coach Alex Kemp we are confident they can handle it,” said Kirk.
“We’ve played four or five trial matches and the order is naturally taking shape. That said, there’s an element of flexibility where most of the middle order guys are just as capable opening.”
Training as a group since June, the squad is set to benefit from several Cricket NSW initiatives.
“The boys have trained at Blacktown and the new facilities at Silverwater,” said Kirk. “In addition, the group have also benefited from training alongside the under-19s squad.”
After cruising through to last year’s grand final without dropping a game, Kirk is wary of the pitfalls of carnival cricket and also pointed to the importance of the squad’s bowling depth.
“We have a left and right-arm combination with the new ball, and there’s three frontline leg-spinners who each have their own unique variations.”
AARUSH SONI (HAWKESBURY)
Almost a permanent fixture on the junior rep scene, Soni has been tormenting batters with his right-arm leg-spin for what seems an eternity. Made his first grade debut for Hawkesbury last season and continues to mix club cricket with commitments at Waverley College in the CAS competition.
An injured finger has disrupted his preparations, but according to Kirk he’s right to go.
ADVITH BOREDDY (PARRAMATTA)
Affectionately known as ‘Big Bird’, the tall right-hander shot to prominence as a key member in Parramatta’s title winning Green Shield side last summer.
With six fifties and almost 500 runs, no one scored more runs than the talented keeper/batter during the six-week competition. Currently playing third grade, Boreddy is likely to start in the middle order but doubles as a serious opening option.
ALEX LEE-YOUNG (MOSMAN)
The side’s frontline option with the gloves, Lee-Young will also open the batting and is one Kirk believes is building towards a big tournament.
“Alex got runs for Mosman in first grade recently and has been opening the batting regularly in seconds,” said Kirk. “He brings skill and energy and is definitely one to watch.”
BLAKE NOORBERGEN (PARRAMATTA)
A punishing right-hander, the fact Noorbergen is pencilled to bat at number six or seven is testament to Metro’s strength. In mid-December he plundered a ton in third grade, before lighting up Chatswood Oval the next day with 145 in Green Shield.
Also delivers crafty off-spin, and brings a competitive instinct that will be welcomed at the pointy end of the competition.
HAYDEN MCCARTHY (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY)
Has been named to face the new ball at the top of the order, and brings solid club form having averaged near 30 in six second grade outings for Sydney University.
His aggression with the willow is complemented by an ability to take regular wickets with his right-arm leg-spin.
JOHN JAMES (NORTHERN DISTRICT)
A big quick with a penchant for clearing the fence, John James is a prototype for the future.
The Central Coast all-rounder will power up the middle order and will be the side’s go-to when closing out an innings with the ball.
“He’s a big boy, and if he flexes his muscles he can do anything,” said Kirk, before offering a warning to Ballarat locals. “I’d be concerned about leaving my vehicle in the adjacent car park.”
KOBEY FREER (SUTHERLAND)
The busy right-hander scores at a fair clip and possess the desired nous to be named captain. Now a fixture in Sutherland’s second grade, Freer started the season all guns blazing with centuries in third grade and Poidevin-Gray Shield (U21s).
Bowls handy off-spin and creates pressure with carefully thought-out field placements.
LEWIS KEENAN (ST GEORGE)
The tall left-arm paceman continues to shine at every level. Opened for St George in Green Shield last summer and continued his development in fifth grade. Fast forward 12 months, and the second-grader already has 19 wickets against his name at a healthy 22 apiece.
MANRAJ KAHLON (ST GEORGE)
Another fast bowler from St George, Kahlon is known for movement in the air and off the seam. Currently plays third grade and earlier this season showcased his ability with the bat, launching five maximums in a match-winning 108 off 101 balls.
NADEN COORAY (PARRAMATTA)
One of three top-notch wrist spinners at Alex Kemp’s disposal, Cooray proved himself in Green Shield last season and comes off a season best 3-35 against Penrith in Parramatta’s third grade.
NITESH SAMUEL (PARRAMATTA)
Among a growing list of rapidly rising Parra bats, Samuel is among the best. Finished second for runs scored in Green Shield last year – including a match turning 82 in the decider – and hasn’t slowed down since. This season the prodigious right-hander currently leads all comers in Sydney third grade with 386 runs at 48.3.
WILL ADLAM (MOSMAN)
The only returning member of last season’s campaign, Adlam has been chosen to lockdown the coveted No.3 spot in the batting order.
So far this season, the right-hand accumulator has shared his time between The Scots College and Mosman’s second grade. Showed his class in PG’s a month ago, scoring an unbeaten 102 in a three-wicket victory.
Bowls a heavy ball, and will be called upon at regular intervals throughout the tournament.
WILL HARDY (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY)
For those who like a surprise packet, according to Kirk, Will Hardy could be the one.
A fiery quick, the right-armer hits the deck hard and brings decent form from both Newington and Sydney University’s lower grades.
YASH DESHMUKH (FAIRFIELD-LIVERPOOL)
Having already made a name for himself with the ball, the right-arm leggie continues to evolve into a quality all-rounder. Along with several starts in the middle order in second grade, Deshmukh continues to take regular wickets for Fairfield-Liverpool.
NSW COUNTRY
A really strong Country side will travel to Ballarat for what could be the zone’s best chance to shake up a national carnival in recent memory.
Featuring five of last year’s excellent Newcastle Bradman Cup-winning side, who also went on to beat Green Shield champions Parramatta in the state challenge, the team is chock full of talent and has gained confidence from some impressive performances in intrastate hit-outs against NSW Metro.
“It just strikes me as a pretty well-balanced squad,” said coach Greg McLay. “We have a really classy top seven. We’ve got a very deep batting order because it just so happens that some of our good spinners, wicketkeepers and pace bowlers are actually very good bats as well.
“We’ve got a couple of really handy quicks and we’ve got a lot of spinners, and as an off-spinner myself there’s no surprises there,” he added.
Indeed, with five different spinners who can bowl four different types of spin, the attack has plenty of variety.
After winning three of its six games last year, Country are hopeful of an improved performance in 2024.
But despite having plenty of talent at his disposal, McLay says success will ultimately come down to which team can put forward its best on game day.
“You’ve just got to try and bring it every game. I think the teams that execute the basics really well and consistently throughout the tournament are the ones who go deep into them.”
LACHLAN WILLIAMS (NEWCASTLE)
An excellent batsman with all the shots, Williams will skipper the Country side.
Showing he can do it at rep level, Williams dominated the Bradman Cup (under-16s country championships) last year with an average of more than 70 as Newcastle took out the title – and will be hoping to take the next step at nationals.
“He’s a really classy player who’ll be looking for a big tournament,” said McLay.
KASEY BARTON (GREATER ILLAWARRA)
One of three under-age players in the squad, the young fast bowler has come on in leaps and bounds in recent times and is one for the future of country cricket.
“His progress in the last 12 months has been significant,” said McLay. “He’s really strengthened and gotten bigger, and his pace has increased as well.”
TOM BLOWES (WESTERN)
One of two Western players in the squad, the boy from Orange will take his place in a very strong country batting line-up.
“He’s a very, very attacking player who loves to take spinners on, loves to take pace bowlers on,” said McLay.
In addition, he can also contribute with some more than handy off-spin.
JACOB CURRY (NEWCASTLE)
A very promising young quick from Newcastle, Curry has had to manage his body in recent years after stress fractures in his back forced him onto the sidelines for a while.
However back on the field and playing some first grade cricket for local club Belmont, he’ll be looking to make inroads in the opposition top orders.
“He’s a bustling quick with really good ball speed and fantastic accuracy – he’s really hard to get away,” said McLay.
JAMIE DICKSON (NEWCASTLE)
The other half of Newcastle’s excellent pace attack, the big quick has been in excellent form at rep level this season, starring in the Colts (under-19s) carnival – despite playing two years up – as the Hunter side went through to take out the title.
In a remarkable statistic, Dickson dismissed all openers in every single game that he played in the tournament, and will be aiming to continue that run playing against cricketers his own age.
HUNTER HALL (RIVERINA)
The young all-rounder from Howlong is another one of the underage players in the squad.
A leg spinner who can really give it a rip, he performed well at the recent Country Colts carnival with the ball, and can also more than handle himself with the willow.
AUSTEN HISKENS (NEWCASTLE)
The big top-order batsman is a powerful hitter and can really take the game away from teams when he gets going.
He starred for Newcastle in last season’s Bradman Cup success, and with plenty of first grade cricket for Cardiff-Boolaroo under his belt, has taken his game to another level.
JAYLEN JOHNSTON (CENTRAL COAST)
The absolute standout young cricketer from the Central Coast, the all-rounder brings outstanding value with both the bat and ball.
He’s another who enhanced his reputation against older players at the Colts carnival in October, finishing with the Central Coast’s second-most runs and joint-most wickets as his left-arm orthodox bowling proved particularly dangerous.
HARRY KERSHLER (NORTH COASTAL)
The left-arm unorthodox spinner from Cudgen adds plenty of variety to Country’s bowling stocks in a squad flush with quality spin options.
A genuine wicket-taker, the 16-year-old has proven to be a matchwinner at representative level in recent years with some eye-catching spells for North Coastal that have turned matches on their heads.
BLAKE MACKRELL (GREATER ILLAWARRA)
A left-arm orthodox spinner who spent much of last season out injured, Mackrell can be a damaging bowler with his tail up and forms part of the very strong Country spin attack.
HARRY ROSCAREL (WESTERN)
The only player with previous national carnival experience, Roscarel is back for his second stint for Country after taking part in last year’s tournament.
A very accomplished batsman who can go big once he gets in, the boy from Ungarie in the state’s Central West carved up last year’s Bradman Cup and is likely to feature prominently in Country’s top five.
“He’s a really high-quality player,” said McLay.
SHAUN SMITH (RIVERINA)
A real star for Country, not only is Smith a very good wicketkeeper but he is also an outstanding batter who can really take the game away the opposition if given half a chance.
Player of the Tournament in last year’s Bradman Cup with 360 runs, which included a devastating 154 from 129 balls in one dig, Smith will play a key role for Country in the top order and will look play his shots to put pressure on the bowlers.
TED WATERMAN (SOUTHERN DISTRICTS)
The big fast bowler from Queanbeyan will come into the tournament with his tail up, having starred for Southern Districts at the Colts tournament.
Finishing equal-leading wicket-taker, he put in one of the greatest spells in country carnival history when he took seven wickets against a strong Riverina batting line-up to turn plenty of heads.
KEL WILSON (NEWCASTLE)
Another one of the five-strong Newcastle brigade, Wilson is attacking right-handed batsman who likes to keep the scoreboard ticking over and can tear apart an attack once he gets his eye in.
“He hits the ball really hard and really likes to move the game along. He’s set for a really good carnival,” said McLay.
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