Premier Cricket: Carlton names Brayden Stepien

A selection surprise at Carlton Cricket Club, which has named a BBL player to play on Saturday — but not in the ones.

Carlton's Brayden Stepien. Picture: Arj Giese.

He played for the Melbourne Renegades last year and kept wickets for the Perth Scorchers last month.

And, on Saturday, Brayden Stepien will play for Carlton in Premier Cricket.

But there’s a twist.

He will play in the Blues’ Second XI.

Stepien has been playing with Clarence in the Cricket Tasmania Premier League but has a week off and is back in in Melbourne.

Carlton captain-coach Evan Gulbis said Stepien was keen to return to his home club and fit in “an extra hit” before returning to Tasmania next week.

“Brayden is a fantastic Carlton person,” Gulbis said.

“He basically wants to play some cricket but he also doesn’t want to disrupt our (First XI) team.

“He will help out the Second XI who are sitting second on the ladder with all our young players coming through, including some Dowling Shield players.”

Stepien played two games for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash last year.

He was called into the Perth Scorchers side last month from the newly-created player pool to keep wicket for the final 14 overs of their bowling innings after an injury to player Laurie Evans.

Stepien has made nearly 5000 runs for Carlton in eight seasons and played two games for the Blues in December.