Lynbrook young gun Yash Singh to make DDCA First XI debut at 12

A Dandenong District Cricket Association club is set to unveil one of the youngest debutants in competition history on Saturday when it throws the ball to a 12-year-old leg-spinner.

Left to right: Shane D'Rozario, Yash Singh and Shayne Loughnan.

He’s the little leggie with the lot.

And on Saturday, at the age of 12, he’ll make his turf-wicket debut in the Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA).

Yash Singh will become one of the youngest players in the long history of the DDCA to play First XI cricket when he lines up for Lynbrook in Turf 3.

Lynbrook playing coach Shane D’Rozario says he thought hard about promoting the youngster and judged him ready for the steep step into senior cricket.

“We’ve had a bit of a changing of the guard, to be honest,’’ he said.

“We’ve recruited well but with the points system, it’s created a couple of issues. But apart from that, he’s bowled to our boys and everyone’s said he’s the best spinner they’ve faced in a couple of years.

“He’s obviously got some years ahead to mature but he’s a good prospect for our club and we’re happy to promote our kids. He’ll definitely handle himself on the cricket ground. I’ve tested him in all aspects.’’

Left to right: Shane D'Rozario, Yash Singh and Shayne Loughnan.

He said Singh was a most promising leggie.

Last season he represented the DDCA’s Under 12 team and captained Lynbook’s Under 12s into the grand final. He took 6-3 in one match.

“He’s got all the bells and whistles,’’ D’Rozario said.

“He’s got all the variations you ask for: he’s got the wrong ‘un, the flat one, the straight one and a very good leggie he can pitch where he wants to. He’ll be a cricketer to come, don’t worry about that.’’

D’Rozario is in a good position to judge. He’s a former winner of the association’s most prestigious award, the Wookey Medal, and for years was a mainstay of strong Buckley Ridges teams in Turf 1.

His son, Jono, was also 12 when he played with his father at Lynbrook.

Last weekend, Jono made his maiden century for Richmond in Victorian Premier Cricket.

Elsewhere in the DDCA, Cranbourne won’t be short of milestones in its opening round.

Jersey international Harrison Carlyon will make his Turf 2 debut, as will four other Eagles.

The five newcomers will play alongside club stalwart Clint Ayres, who will play his 200th game.

In the Eagles’ seconds, Justin Dickinson will also line up for his 150th game.

Retired Premier Cricket star Michael Wallace will make his long-awaited return to Berwick.

Wallace retired from Premier Cricket at the end of last summer after a career that grossed 3916 runs and five centuries.

Also named for Berwick, in its Turf 4 side, is former Victorian Matt Chasemore.

Chasemore played at Bentleigh in Cricket Southern Bayside last summer but has since returned to the Bears.