Premier Cricket: Footscray’s Max Birthisel picked in Cricket Victoria squad
After starting last season in Footscray’s Fourth XI, teenager Max Birthisel has continued his rapid rise by earning a spot in a Cricket Victoria under-19 squad alongside state players.
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Max Birthisel started last season in Footscray’s Fourth XI.
The left-arm pacemen was called up to the Dogs’ First XI late in the season, with the Premier Cricket club searching for reinforcements as key bowlers were sidelined by injury.
The 17-year-old’s maiden wicket in Victoria’s pre-eminent cricket competition was Ringwood champion David King.
A few weeks later he knocked over star Carlton wicketkeeper-batsman Brayden Stepien, who has made two appearances for Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, to underline his enormous potential.
Birthisel collected four wickets at a respectable average of 23.25 apiece for Footscray’s top side before returning to the Second XI and grabbing 5-50 in a semi-final against Melbourne University.
The Altona product has been rewarded with a spot in Cricket Victoria’s under-19 male emerging performance squad.
The squad was selected on performances in club cricket, the Youth Premier League and last season’s youth national championships.
“It was great to give a young player like him that chance.” Footscray coach Allan Wise said of Birthisel.
“He held his own at First XI level, and then pleasingly went back and took a five-for in a Second XI final.
“He progressed really well throughout the season. We’re really happy for him – he’s a hard worker and good learner.
“He’s quite athletic, has reasonable ball speed and hopefully he’s on a strong trajectory with his strength program. He hasn’t done a lot of that stuff before, so it will be interesting to see where that can take his bowling.
“He’s really composed with the bat as well. We see him developing into a genuine bowling all-rounder who can hold down a position in the middle-lower order.
“He certainly wasn’t fazed batting at First XI level and was a good contributor in a couple of games.
“He’s got some excellent upside, considering it was his first year of Premier Cricket. It’s a very new environment, and he hadn’t been in a high-performance environment at all before.”
Wise said Birthisel had the ability to “bring the ball back in” and possessed a range of variations for white-ball fixtures.
He also showed his ability with the bat for Western Spirit in last season’s Youth Premier League competition, posting a half-century against Barwon.
Birthisel finished the tournament with eight wickets from as many matches.
Wise said the young gun would “relish” the chance to take part in the CV program, with players in contention to represent Victoria at next year’s under-19 National Championships in Adelaide.
Victorian senior squad members Jake Fraser-McGurk, Wil Parker and Cameron McClure were among the players picked.
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