Super Slam: Essendon opener James Seymour out to impress
ESSENDON coach Mitch Johnstone says the inaugural Super Slam presents the perfect opportunity for the next Craig Simmons to emerge from Premier Cricket’s ranks.
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ESSENDON coach Mitch Johnstone says the inaugural Super Slam presents the perfect opportunity for the next Craig Simmons to emerge from Premier Cricket’s ranks.
The revamped Twenty20 tournament starts on Sunday and Bombers players such as opening batsmen James Seymour and Aaron Ayre and paceman Matt Doric will be out to impress.
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Simmons was plucked from WA grade cricket to bat at the top of the order for Perth Scorchers and still holds the record for the fastest Big Bash League hundred.
Seymour is considered one of the best ball strikers in Victoria and showcased his talent by clubbing 77 from 67 balls in a two-day game against Geelong on Sunday.
“This Super Slam should be a vehicle for guys like that to really put their name up and be taken seriously,” Johnstone said.
“That’s part of the premise of the competition, to give Premier players a platform to demonstrate their T20 skills.
“It was a bit tokenistic in previous years with three or four games. Clubs were probably not quite on board with it.
“This year it’s isolated and an opportunity for guys like James or (Carlton batsman) Brayden Stepien, who are probably not really talked about in state cricket circles, to demonstrate their capacity.”
Seymour has taken 15 wickets and compiled 252 runs this year as a key member of Essendon’s Premier side.
@vicpremcricket James Seymour has raced to 58 (54). @EssendonCC 1/102 (19) after @geelongcc got a break with Boyd removing Ayre. Follows up on his 8/98 yesterday
— Robert Shaw (@shawry_analyst) November 18, 2018
Amazes me how local BBL franchises scan the world for average T20 players and he’s in the back yard. #stars #gades
Bombers director of coaching Robert Shaw tweeted it ‘amazes me how local BBL franchises scan the world for average T20 players and he’s in the back yard’ as Seymour raced to a half-century against the Cats.
“James, the last 18 months in particular, has been a pretty dynamic player in Premier Cricket,” Johnstone said.
Ayre has previously featured for Melbourne Renegades, while Doric has been on the fringes of the Victorian squad.
Johnstone tipped in-form batsman Isaac Willett would be a “surprise packet” in the Super Slam and added Aaron Shellie would be a player to watch.
“Isaac Willett has been pretty prominent the last two games,” he said.
“He’s really opened up his game this year, so he might be a bit of a surprise packet for us.”
The Bombers open the tournament with a double-header against Carlton and Northcote on Sunday at Princes Park.
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