Premier Cricket: Dandenong allrounder James Nanopoulos set for 200th match

Dandenong’s young veteran James Nanopoulos is set to join the Cricket Victoria 200 Club, playing his 200th match in Premier Cricket.

James Nanopoulos hits out against Footscray. He comes up against the Bulldogs in his 200th match.

Only very good players are capable of opening the batting in Premier Cricket one week and opening the bowling the next.

James Nanopoulos did it occasionally for Dandenong, particularly early in his career, launching an innings with his stylish left-hand batting and leading the attack with his canny right-arm medium pace.

He is a very good player.

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And on Saturday the allrounder becomes a Cricket Victoria 200 Club member, the milestone to be met against Footscray at Shepley Oval.

At 30, Nanopoulos — “Nano’’ to everyone at Dandenong — can be called a young veteran.

Recruited from Parkdale United by former Panthers coach Warren Ayres, he was 17 when introduced to the First XI.

His debut was against Northcote in 2005-06 at Shepley; his teammates included club greats Ayres, Peter Siddle, Darren Pattinson, Paul Boraston and Tim Hooper (and a starting-out Brett Forsyth).

As if to show the youngster how it was done, Ayres peeled off 193, and in the following two matches cracked 110 and 139.

“It was quite unbelievable to watch him go about it … you looked at him and thought, ‘Oh my Lord’,’’ Nanopoulos said. “Not that I did anything in that game!’’

The new chum made 1 and 9 not out and didn’t bowl.

James Nanopoulos started the season with 250 wickets in Premier Cricket.

But in the next match he jagged 2-26 off eight overs. In the seasons since hardly a match has passed without him slipping in for wickets (give him a bit of swing in the air and nip off the pitch and the medium pacer becomes a menace).

In his second season, at the age of 18, Nanopoulos opened the batting for Dandenong in the grand final against St Kilda, the Panthers claiming a memorable first premiership following the amalgamation of the Waverley and Dandenong clubs 15 years earlier.

“Happened so quickly … to be fair, it seems like only yesterday,’’ he said.

Two more premierships have followed, as have T20 crowns and, this season, the inaugural Super Slam title.

Nanopoulos considers himself lucky to have played with the likes of Ayres, Cameron White, Siddle and Darren Pattinson early in his career.

He saw that they added sheer hard work to their natural ability.

“Watching ‘Sidds’ and Darren and even Jimmy (James Pattinson) steaming in at the nets every Tuesday and Thursday, you can’t not follow them,’’ Nanopoulos said. “It sort of grows into you as a young kid. That’s what it takes to be successful.’’

He hopes Dandy whippersnappers now look at him the same way. “I pride myself on doing the work at training and trying to get the best out of myself.’’

James Nanopoulos on the charge in a one-dayer.

Another lesson he learned early was that there should always be a few laughs to lessen the tension and lighten the mood.

“You play your best cricket when you’re enjoying it. If you’re overthinking things you tend to get stuck. You need to know when it’s time to work and when it’s time to have a bit of fun. It’s a demanding game.’’

In his mind, Nanopoulos set out in Premier Cricket as a batsman, his reputation as a good prospect made with heavy scoring in the Dowling Shield.

He struggled for consistency early in his career, but as his batting stalled his bowling progressed.

“I had to bring that into my game, develop it, because I didn’t have many runs on the board,’’ he said. “As I did that, the batting took a bit of a hit.’’

In the past few seasons, however, he’s performed both roles with an influence that marks him out as one of Premier Cricket’s best all-rounders and certainly Dandenong’s best since Dave Newman, a player he always admired.

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Going into this season Nanopoulos had made almost 3500 runs and taken 250 wickets.

He thinks he should have done more with his batting; his clean striking, made with an easy and elegant swing of the bat, has brought him only one century, 140 four years ago against Casey South Melbourne.

Nanopoulos said he had left a lot of runs in the middle, “from a few brain explosions and (poor) shot selection’’.

“When I was younger — and this doesn’t sound great — I was happy with 30s and that,’’ he said.

“When you get a bit older you start to realise 30s don’t really cut it.

“I’ve been a lot more relaxed with my batting in the last few years. In the past I was maybe worried about keeping my spot and having to perform.’’

This season he’s clipped 387 runs at 55.3 and snaffled 21 wickets, aside from being a key contributor in the Super Slam campaign.

Nanopoulos is a concreter. A long time ago his standing in Premier Cricket was set. He is a very good player.

An 18-year-old James Nanopoulos (bottom right) and Dandenong teammates celebrate the 2006-07 premiership.