VSDCA 2018-19: Yarraville teenager Aidan Salvado impresses in First XI

Yarraville coach Matthew Grose has lauded the efforts of Aidan Salvado in his maiden VSDCA First XI campaign and pointed out one stat that will turn heads.

Aidan Salvado has a bright future. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Yarraville coach Matthew Grose has lauded the efforts of Aidan Salvado in his maiden VSDCA First XI campaign.

The teenager compiled 331 runs at 30.1 after being promoted to the top of the order in November and collected seven wickets at 14.1 apiece.

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While experienced pair Matthew Harrison (399 runs) and Grose (22 wickets) were Yarraville’s leading performers with bat and ball, Salvado was perhaps the positive of the season.

Grose pointed to the fact Salvado came within a whisker of achieving a rare feat after claiming 5-33 against Brighton in Round 4 and making 91 against Melton in Round 11.

“We’re stoked with how he went this year,” Grose said.

“I did a bit of digging up of the stats when he made his 91 against Melton and I think at that point in time the only players in the competition who had made 100 and taken five wickets were Jake Thorne (Caulfield) and Adam Yates (Altona).

“He was nine runs away from doing that. For a 16-year-old kid to have had such an impact in his first season of First XI Sub-District cricket, that’s immense.

“He’ll probably win our First XI MVP and could win our club champion.”

Salvado also returned scores of 47, 45 and 42 as he displayed his ability to blunt the new ball.

Given he was still eligible for under-17s this season, it’s clear he has a bright future, but Grose said the young gun was also capable of playing a big role with the ball.

“He knows he’s still got plenty of work to do. I think he’s got great potential with the ball as well that he hasn’t really realised until this year,” Grose said.

“He’s a very handy off-spin bowler, especially in limited-overs games, and his batting will just continue to improve.

“I think he’s shown over the course of the year that he’s got the ability to see off the best bowlers and score off them as well.”

Yarraville finished in ninth spot on the South-West group ladder after a final-round loss to Elsternwick.