Monash Tigers teenager Wil Parker in Sheffield Shield call-up
Wil Parker started bowling leg-spin only three years ago, and only because he’d suffered a back injury. Now, at the age of 17, the Monash Tiger has been called up to the Victorian Sheffield Shield squad. Here’s his story.
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Wil Parker was competing at his school’s swimming carnival on Monday morning when his phone rang.
It was Victorian cricket chairman of selectors Andrew Lynch, inviting him to attend state training on Tuesday.
Wil sought the permission of his parents, Cam and Nyree, and duly presented at the MCG, driven to the ground by his mum.
A few hours later Vics coach Lachlan Stevens brought the players in and announced the squad of 12 for the Sheffield Shield match against NSW starting at the SCG on Friday.
And to the 17-year-old’s shock, he was in it.
After training Wil phoned his father, who was in disbelief.
Once he had digested the news, Cam phoned his son back to say how proud and excited the family was for the Monash Tigers all-rounder.
His selection came a few days after he had played for the Victorian Second XI.
“We all thought ‘Lynchy’ was inviting him down for a bit of experience,’’ Cam said.
“Then after training he rang me at work and said, ‘I’m in the 12, Dad’. I was lost for words.’’
As for Wil, “he was pretty taken aback’’.
“After the initial shock, probably like all of them he was excited and happy and that sort of stuff,’’ his father said.
The Parker clan has been through a surprise call-up to the Victorian team before: in 1985, Cam’s brother Geoff was also selected for the Vics, and also at the age of 17.
Geoff went on to play first-class cricket for Victoria and South Australia, and league football for Essendon (he is now AFL club Port Adelaide’s recruiting manager).
Like his uncle, Wil excels at both sports.
Last year he played at the MCG in the All Stars ‘Futures’ match on AFL grand final day, theoretically putting him among the best 44 players under the age of 17 in the country. He’s considered a good chance to be drafted in his top-age season this year.
His talent for football and cricket and his Year 12 studies make for a hectic schedule, especially with the Eastern Ranges in the heat of their pre-season. He attends Ranges training on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays, and Monash Tigers cricket training on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“I don’t know how he does it. He just seems to do it all at a top level,’’ Cam said.
“He finds a way to fit it all in with no fuss. He gets top grades with his school work and obviously his footy and cricket are going well too. He manages his time and does it without whingeing. He does his school work before he goes to cricket. He does it when he gets home from footy training. From all the feedback he gets it’s a commitment he has to make if he wants to succeed. He’s willing to do it.’’
Last Friday he was on the track with the Ranges. The following two days he was on the field with Monash in a Saturday-Sunday Premier Cricket match at Central Reserve.
But there are regular clashes with his obligations. The most fateful was when he was trying out for Eastern’s Under 16 squad. He was told he wouldn’t make it unless he trained at least once. Luckily for the lad, cricket practice was washed out and he could fish out his football boots. He made the cut – and he’s since made excellent progress with his football.
“You could say he got in by fluke,’’ Cam said.
“If it didn’t rain that night he may not be playing footy at all.’’
There was another lucky break for him in his cricket, and it stemmed from an unlikely source: injury.
Hooked up with the Monash Tigers’ Academy, he suffered a stress fracture of his back and virtually missed a season of cricket. He was a medium pace bowler then and as he made his recovery he began bowling leggies.
Sharp-eyed Monash coach Shannon Young liked what he saw and encouraged him to persist with them.
“He stuck with it. The rest is history,’’ Cam Parker said.
“It was that injury that got him bowling leg-spin.’’
Sport runs in the family. Wil’s grandfather Brian Parker played one game of league football for South Melbourne. Richmond football great Dale “Flea’’ Weightman is his uncle. Another former leading AFL player, Leigh Colbert, is a cousin. And Melbourne premiership player and former Shield cricketer Neil Crompton was his great uncle. Cam himself played more than 100 games of District cricket for Richmond (now known as Monash Tigers).
Wil started his cricket at Norwood in the Ringwood District association, and earned his first recognition in the Under 12 Keith Mitchell Shield, usually a reliable guide to a player’s prospects.
He played in the state championships for Outer East at Under 14 and 16 level, but missed out on Victorian Under 15 selection.
Last season, however, he twice took four wickets playing for Vic Metro at the national Under 17 titles, gaining selection in the Australian team and playing in the national Under 19 Futures T20 competition.
His rise continued this season with the captaincy of the Victorian Metro Under 19 team (at age 17) and appearances for the Victorian Second XI in the Toyota Cup.
Last week against ACT/NSW Country he nabbed 3-70 off 21 overs and made 31 in the first innings.
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Monash Tigers have by some distance the best group of young players in Premier Cricket, and already Mitch Perry and Jake Fraser-McGurk have been elevated to the state team this season.
Will a third Tiger cub take a cap? Wil is unsure if he’ll play at the SCG.
“Hopefully he gets the nod but regardless he’ll go up and enjoy the experience,’’ Cam Parker said.
“If he get a game, it’s a bonus. We all think he’s mature enough to handle it and, skills-wise, who knows what he could do.’’