‘Pretty incredible’: Shobit Singh named in Vic Colts to tackle NSW in Sydney

Innings of 160 and 167 have Shobit Singh’s name up in lights in Victorian Premier Cricket. They’ve earned him selection in the Victorian Colts team to tackle NSW.

Dandenong’s Shobit Singh cuts during his brilliant 167 against Greenvale Kangaroos last Saturday at Shepley Oval. Photo: Josh Chadwick

Dandenong recruit Shobit Singh’s run-filled start to the Victorian Premier Cricket season has been recognised with selection in a Victorian Colts team to play NSW next week.

Singh blitzed 167 off 165 balls against Greenvale Kangaroos on Saturday, sharing with his captain Brett Forsyth a 270-run stand, a record for any Dandenong wicket.

It was his second 150-plus score in a fortnight: in the previous round he cracked 160 off 182 deliveries against Northcote.

Singh, 21, is coming in at No. 4 for the Panthers. At his previous club, Richmond, he went in first and was regarded as a player who built his game around studious defence. Now he’s playing shots all around the ground at a run-a-ball rattle.

The right-hander was an Australian Under 16 representative and made his debut for the Tigers in 2020-21. His maiden century, 103, came last season, but he averaged only 19, prompting him to seek fresh fields.

He looked to Casey Fields initially, talking to Casey South Melbourne, but eventually signed at Dandenong.

Shobit Singh has plenty of style. Photo: Josh Chadwick

“It’s been pretty incredible, to be honest,” Panthers coach Tommy Donnell said of Singh’s early-season performances.

“The way he has played with such confidence and freedom has been great for us, we’ve sort of backed him in fully and how he wanted to play.

“He’s had that goal in mind and he came to us with that, we’ve just embraced it and gone with it.

“Full credit to him, he’s tried to change his game and it’s worked for him, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t have been trying to play that way beforehand.

“He hits the ball so cleanly, it’s good to see.”

Prahran dasher Cameron Hemp will also make the trip to Sydney.

The left-hander has made 81 against Casey South Melbourne and 115 (14 fours, 6 sixes) against Fitzroy-Doncaster in his two innings for the True Blues this season. And in a local-cricket cameo after his knock against the Lions he caned 126 off 52 balls – with 13 sixes – for Cluden in the South East Cricket Association T20.

Dandenong No 3 Dhanusha Gamage and pace bowler Noah Hurley, and consistent Camberwell Magpies run-maker Liam Fitzpatrick are also set for selection.

Fitzpatrick has had scores of 69, 19, 115 and 97 for the Magpies this season; his wicket has become a prize for Premier bowlers.

Prahran’s Cameron Hemp in the field against Ringwood. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Young Casey South Melbourne left-armer Harry Hoekstra and Dandenong leg-spinner Vishwa Ramkumar, coming off a tour of India with the Australian Under 19 team, are also expected to feature.

The Victoria-NSW Colts match is for Under 23 players and will be played from November 25-28, when the Vic Second XI plays in Launceston.

The Vic selectors have gone for players performing well in Premier Cricket and who they think can push for higher honours.

“We want to see a few of these boys go to a new level when they meet the best-performed NSW players,’’ Vics head of male cricket David Hussey said.

“It’s a good chance for them to show their stuff on a bigger and more high-pressure stage.

“The whole idea of the game is to bridge the gap between Premier Cricket and state Second XI cricket.’’’

Former Victorian captain Travis Dean, Test man Jon Holland and Shane Koop will coach the Colts team.

Hussey said CV general manager of performance Graeme Manou and his NSW counterpart Greg Mail had suggested the fixture.

The Victorian team will be announced this week.

Originally published as ‘Pretty incredible’: Shobit Singh named in Vic Colts to tackle NSW in Sydney