Premier Cricket: Brayden Stepien, Sam Elliott among best emerging players
Some players are in the formative stages of their careers while others have more miles on the clock. But they all have enormous potential. Here’s our list of Premier Cricket’s top emerging talents.
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Some are in the formative stages of their careers, while others have more miles on the clock.
But they share one trait — enormous potential.
Below is our list of the emerging players turning heads in Victorian Premier Cricket (in no particular order).
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Brayden Stepien (Carlton)
Former Victorian batsman and Carlton coach Warren Ayres has called for Big Bash League clubs to take a close look at the hard-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman. The 21-year-old Bendigo product is a rare talent, according to Ayres, and his numbers this season back up that assertion. Stepien is the sixth highest run-scorer in Premier Cricket in 2018-19 with 407 from eight games at an average of 67.83. He whacked an unbeaten 128 from 125 balls in a one-dayer against Geelong and has four other half-centuries to his name. He has also been damaging in the Vic Super Slam, hitting 184 runs — the second most in the Renegades conference behind teammate Evan Gulbis — at a strike rate of 139.4. “Over the last two seasons he’s been one of the most dynamic Twenty20 players in the state,’’ Ayres said. Stepien is also a tidy performer with the gloves behind the stumps.
Dom McGlinchey (Geelong)
After battling ankle injuries which threatened his career, McGlinchey has developed into a reliable performer in the past two seasons — so reliable in fact he is on the Victoria’s radar. That’s the view of his Geelong coach Liam Buchanan, who has praised McGlinchey for his “impeccable” line and length. The right-arm paceman has enjoyed an impressive season, collecting 16 wickets at 20.44 apiece to go with a neat economy rate of 3.39. He is yet to claim a five-wicket haul in 2018-19 but has collected three wickets or more on four occasions, underlining his consistency. He grabbed 26 wickets last summer and has made a strong case for a spot in Victoria’s Futures League side.
Todd Murphy (St Kilda)
The son of St Kilda premiership player Jamie Murphy has made a duck-to-water transition to Premier Cricket, picking up 14 wickets with his accurate off-spin (and another six in the Super Slam). Has had few opportunities with the bat, but the Saints say he’s more than capable with it. Murphy captained the Victorian Country team at the national Under 19 championships, opened the batting against WA and made 59 off 75 balls. But it’s his slow bowling that makes him one to watch.
Sam Elliott (Fitzroy Doncaster)
A champion Premier Cricket batsman described Elliott as “one of the most impressive bowlers” in the competition, adding “he hit the bat very hard and bowled with great control”. The son of former Test batsman Matthew has been cruelled by injury setbacks in previous seasons but is fit and firing and regarded as Fitzroy Doncaster’s fastest bowler. He is part of a crack pace attack at the Lions alongside Trent Lawford, Andrew Perrin and Chris Moore and has seven wickets to his name at 28 apiece this season. He is also a handy lower-order batsman, scoring two half-centuries. The 18-year-old made his Premier debut in Round 1 this season alongside his brother Zac and both harbour ambitions of representing their country. Elliott also played five games of football with TAC Cup club Oakleigh Chargers this year before opting to focus on his cricket.
Josh Bartlett (St Kilda)
The all-rounder made his reputation last season as a left-arm paceman and useful lower-order batsman, grabbing 38 wickets at 14.2 (including a bag of 6-54 against eventual premier Dandenong) and slipping in with 268 runs at 29.78. It prompted Saints captain Michael Beer to hold him up as a Big Bash League prospect. Bartlett has made a strong start to 2018-19, taking 20 wickets across Premier and Super Slam and thrashing 81 off 82 balls to help St Kilda chase down Footscray’s 9-300.
Blake Thomson (Melbourne)
Ahead of this season the stylish, technically pleasing right-hander was let go as a rookie after two years with Victoria in which he played matches at JLT Cup level. But at 21 time is on his side and his captain, Matthew Brown, says he “definitely has the fire in the belly to get back there’’. Has three half-centuries in 2018-19. It’s a question of when, not if, he’ll turn one into a big ton to match his supreme 166 not out late last season.
Jack Rudd (Fitzroy Doncaster)
The young opening batsman started the season slowly with 33 runs in his first three innings but then responded with scores of 52, 88, 69 and 67no. He has 318 runs to his name at 53 and has established himself as one of the competition’s best at the top of the order. Still in his early 20s, Rudd boasts enormous potential and scored his maiden Premier Cricket ton in 2017-18 — an unbeaten 122 against Frankston Peninsula. He also hammered a double century for Fitzroy Doncaster’s Second XI as a teenager. Good judges say he is well on his way to becoming an excellent Premier performer.
Brad Melville (Melbourne)
Another good young player from a club that corners a lot of elite under-age talent. Wangaratta product Melville, a Victorian Under 17 and 19 representative, hits the ball cleanly, bowls tidy offies and fields like a bandit. In a strong batting line-up he usually comes in at No 6 or 7 but such is his hitting power he opened the batting for the Demons in last Tuesday’s Super Slam.
Nathan Lambden (Casey South Melbourne)
There are few better sights in Premier Cricket than Lambden at full steam, striding in off a long run — many say he could cut it back — and delivering the ball at high speed. He’s been on the fringe of the state set-up, playing three Futures League matches, and at 25 is entitled to think his best is to come. Took 25 wickets in 2016-17 and the same number in 2017-18 but needs to reach 35-plus to stir the interest of the state selectors. They apparently rate him. With his pace, that’s no surprise.
Jake Fraser-McGurk (Monash Tigers)
Fraser-McGurk is rated as one of the most talented prospects coming through Monash Tigers. Such is his immense talent, coach Shannon Young has likened the attacking batsman to Australian white-ball star Glenn Maxwell. The 16-year-old played four First XI games last season and hit his first half-century at the top level in Round 6 against Melbourne. Also hammered 177 from just 113 deliveries for Victoria Metro at the Under-17 national championships earlier this year. He finished the carnival with 425 runs with an average of 53.13 and a strike-rate of 120, also peeling off two half-centuries. A player to watch.
Akshat Buch (Dandenong)
The crafty left-arm spinner has played every match since joining the Panthers last season from Sub-District club Yarraville on the recommendation of former Dandy spinner Nathan Allen. Jagged 27 wickets in a premiership season and started 2018-19 with 5-26 in a one-dayer against Ringwood. Keeps it tight in all the formats, but is particularly valuable in the short stuff.
Damon Egan (St Kilda)
The neat right-hander first came to notice at Subbies club Malvern, where he made his debut at age 14. Prolific in under-age representative cricket, Egan joined Melbourne but transferred to St Kilda in 2016-17, hitting his maiden First XI century (115) against Dandenong. Made more gains, as well as another ton, last season with 521 runs at 47.36. Hasn’t quite got going in 2018-19, but there is no doubting his ability. Against Carlton last Saturday he played two elegant, effortless shots down the ground for four, but on 13 left a ball and was knocked over. “Good prospect, Damo,’’ Saints skipper Michael Beer says. “Just has to keep backing himself and working at it.’’
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