MPCA: Inside Sam Field’s rise from 12-year-old debutant to prized centurion

Teenager Sam Field ended 2024 with a blistering unbeaten First XI ton and begins 2025 as captain of a Dowling Shield team. He shares his journey and the humble goals he’s striving to achieve.

Sam Field and his Kookaburra bat have seen off plenty of balls. Picture: Supplied.

It would be natural for Sam Field to dream big at this stage of his budding cricket career.

Field, 15, from MPCA club Flinders, crashed 146 not out from just 130 balls in his last innings of 2024 and will captain Melbourne’s Dowling Shield side this month.

And while an entrance like that of another Sam – Sam Konstas at the MCG on Boxing Day – would enter the mind of most young stars with similar talent, Field has a much more modest goal in mind.

“It’s not really anything specific, more just the repetitive stuff: hit more balls, hit them all under my eyes,” he said of his current aim.

Young @FlindersCC ⭐️ Sam Field scored his maiden 1st XI 💯 in the #MPCA Coming in @ #3 after the 4th ball of the innings he finished 146no off 130 out of his sides 8/221. 364 runs @ 60.67 1x 100 & 3x 50 also has 9 wkts with his off spin at the break #GoSharks ❤️💙 @PaulAmy375pic.twitter.com/PUMvi7AYcv

— Clint 🐯🖤💛🏆💙❤️🦈 (@chocca3) December 21, 2024

Field’s dazzling 146 was his side’s only score above 19 in its win over Main Ridge in December.

It was Field’s first senior ton – but fourth overall – and took him to 699 runs for the summer.

He walked to the middle at 1-0 and batted with seven teammates on his way to the winning total.

Field, who “felt pretty scratchy” early, didn’t allow himself to bask in the glory of his ton, maturely aware of the task at hand.

“It was awesome getting the hundred in the ones – early on I felt pretty scratchy but I got one shot away and then sort of felt like it was my day,” he said.

“In that stage (reaching 100) we kept losing wickets, so I thought ‘bat to the end, keep batting smart’ just so I could get the team to the best score I could.”

Sam Field is Melbourne's Dowling Shield captain. Picture: Supplied.

Field’s rise has not only earned him the Demons’ captaincy but also an invite to the Mornington Peninsula Country Week tryouts.

If selected, Field would join a raft of competition greats to don the purple cap, including his Dad Dwayne.

It would also add to a jam-packed January schedule for the young cricket lover.

“I never get tired of it, it’s the best,” he said.

“I have always played it, loved it and have never thought about not loving it, from my first game being (age) six playing in the under-10s.

“It’s pretty cool seeing all the people in the (Country Week) squad and how they’ve done it before.

“It would be great to make the team but even doing the training and the trial games is a good experience.”

Field and his Kookaburra bat have seen off plenty of balls. Picture: Supplied.

Field made his First XI debut for the Sharks in 2022 as a 12-year-old.

He was meant to be spending that season in the Thirds but his strong form forced the hands of selectors.

After having held his own across the past three seasons with bat and ball, Field has sprouted as a prized wicket this summer.

He credits being more comfortable at First XI level for his impressive first half of the year.

“I feel like a couple of years ago I wasn’t really backing myself,” he said.

“I was a bit tentative, but I feel like these last 12 months I have been backing myself more, backing myself to play more shots.”

Field hopes his hard work will point him in the direction of some underage Victorian sides and eventually Premier Cricket.

But as he rises through the ranks, Field jokes his greatest influence (Dad) still has his number.

“He (Dad) still gets me out all the time, gets me out for fun in the nets,” he laughed.