APS cricket: The top players to watch ahead of the 2023-24 summer

The wait for APS cricket is almost over. Ahead of a bumper season, we have named the players to watch. See the full list.

The wait is almost over.

Talented cricketers across the state are set to be out for APS glory when the season kicking off on November 11.

Here are the players that can turn the title result

FREDDIE ARNHOLD, Haileybury College

Arnhold will open the bowling for Haileybury this season, taking a brunt of the sides responsibility with the ball.

TED BAIN, Geelong College

Bain has started his season with a bang, hitting 91 from 121 deliveries in their practice match against Melbourne after being blooded in Geelong’s 2nd XI in Premier Cricket. He produced stunning performances with the bat and the ball last season, claiming six wickets against Wesley in round 10 with his leg-spin and hitting 91 in their win over arch-rivals Geelong Grammar. Bain finished with 19 wickets and 242 runs in the campaign and early indications suggest he should better that this season.

FREDDIE BRAYSHAW, Haileybury College

Freddie, the son of former first-class cricketer and broadcast personality James, has opened the batting for Haileybury in the first two practice matches. While he hasn’t stuffed the stat sheet with runs, he hasn’t appeared out of his depth either.

Freddie Brayshaw batting for Brighton. Picture: Valeriu Campan

LUCAS BREMNER, Xavier College

Bremner is a left-arm opening bowler who is expected to lead Xavier’s attack from the front. Was a consistent wicket-taker with 10 scalps at 28 last season and played Premier fourths for Prahran.

CHARLIE GRUMMITT, Carey Grammar

Carey’s captain and wicketkeeper batter is the school’s standout cricketer. The batter didn’t trouble the scorers in their practice match but came close to making a couple of half-centuries for Carey last season, also making his senior Premier Cricket debut in the fourths for Camberwell last year.

SAM HAWKINS, Xavier College

Hawkins is one to keep tabs on after scoring a massive hundred in the Year 9 competition last season. Should play a number of roles in Xavier’s batting order and could potentially open.

JACK HEATON, Geelong Grammar

Heaton put his hand up as a matchwinner last season, winning a couple of games off his own bat with his fearless middle-order stroke play. The Geelong Grammar border, who hails from Hay in country New South Wales, will likely provide plenty of highlights again this season.

CHRIS KELLAWAY, Caulfield Grammar

Chris is the equally-talented younger brother of Campbell, who is contracted with Victoria and the Melbourne Stars. Chris is the form player of the competition after a bruising century in the practice match.

MITCH KIRKWOOD-SCOTT, Haileybury College

A dashing top-order bat that goes from ball one. He enters the APS season in form having plundered 68 not out from 43 balls in the practice match against Carey Grammar. He made three centuries last summer, including a huge 166. Kirkwood-Scott has already etched himself into Haileybury folklore by kicking an incredible goal to seal APS footy victory over Caulfield Grammar earlier this year.

MAX KONDOGIANNIS, Carey Grammar

The all-rounder showed he has potential last season with nine wickets and 124 runs. Currently in Year 10 student going into Year 11, Kondogiannis will be looking to take another step forward for Carey.

SAM LALOR, Geelong Grammar

This may be Lalor’s last summer of cricket for a while given he is among the top draft prospects in the country, having played in the U17 Futures grand final curtain raiser on the MCG and for Vic Country as a bottom-ager. On the cricket field, Lalor is a destructive with the bat and can hit a big ball, amassing 297 runs last year. His football commitments with the GWV Rebels will click up a gear as the season goes on.

Sam Lalor is one of the many talented dual-sport players to watch this season. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

CHARLIE LARSEN, Geelong College

Larsen will form a formidable opening combination with Patterson. Larsen was also among the top APS run scorers last season, posting 333 runs with a top score of 70.

JOSH LINDSAY, Geelong Grammar

Lindsay was just as prolific across half-back for Geelong Grammar as he was with the ball last season, claiming 15 scalps at 16 with best figures of 4/40. Lindsay, who doesn’t turn 17 until April, bowls with good pace and has great control. Like Lalor, the dual sport talent is likely to head down the football path with Lindsay enjoying an impressive U16 AFL national championships this year for Vic Country.

TOMMY MARRINER, Melbourne Grammar

Melbourne’s captain plundered 105 from 122 in MGS’ practice match against Geelong. If that match is anything to go by, he will need to do some heavy lifting this season, as he was one of just two to make more than 10.

JEREMY MURRAY, Brighton Grammar

Murray returns from a sensational season as a bottom-ager last summer where he won the APS bowling as a Year 11.

Jeremy Murray. Picture: Valeriu Campan

TOM PATTERSON, Geelong College

The opening batter showcased his talent with an unbeaten 127 against Melbourne Grammar last season, amassing 367 runs in all for the season. Patterson will also keep for Geelong College and should improve on the last campaign.

OLLIE PEAKE, Geelong Grammar

Fresh off a Premier 1st grade century, Peake is going to be feared by opposition schools in the APS. Peake hit a whopping 542 runs, including two centuries, and 26 wickets last season as he stamped his authority as the top cricketer in the APS competition last season, and he has only gotten better since then. Fortunately, they may be spared early on in the season with Peake to captain Vic Country’s U17 side and then represent VicCountry’s U19 team, where he is expected to highlight his credentials on the national stage even further.

Ollie Peake. Picture: Mark Wilson

JEZ RIGONI, Caulfield Grammar

Rigoni is no stranger to APS cricket having already recorded a century last summer. An unbeaten 34 from 27 balls in a warm-up match against Haileybury should have him primed for a strong summer.

Jez Rigoni, you star. 100!!! ⁦@caulfieldgs⁩ ⁦@StKevinsCricket⁩ pic.twitter.com/9epfpWXetL

— Caulfield Grammar School Cricket (@CGScricket) February 18, 2023

COOPER ROJKO, Brighton Grammar

Expect Rojko to open the batting and bowl his leg-spin for Brighton Grammar this summer. When he’s not with under age Victoria outfits, he plays for St Kilda. He will captain his school this season.

JAMES ROSHAM, Melbourne Grammar

Along with Marriner, Roshem steered Melbourne to a strong total against Geelong College with a gutsy half century. The talented all-rounder out of Melbourne Cricket Club was also just named in the Victorian Under-17 side set for Ballarat in January.

HARRY SIMPSON, Carey Grammar

Simpson made a promising start to the season, top-scoring for Carey in their practice match against Haileybury, hitting 59 off 97 - including six boundaries and a maximum.

ALEX TURNER, Brighton Grammar

Turner will likely open the batting or bat at three for Brighton Grammar this year having just front lined Prahran’s First XI top order. In the one-day fixtures, he will also bowl some handy off-spin.

Alex Turner in action for Prahran. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Rory Wright appeals during a Craig Shield match for Ormond in 2022. Picture: Valeriu Campan

ED WINNEKE, Scotch College

Winneke made 314 runs at 67 and took six wickets at 14 last summer as a bottom-age player.

CHARLIE WOOD, Brighton Grammar

Wood enters the APS season in form, having just pummeled a century for Camberwell Magpies in the Premier Cricket Third XI. His 104 came off just 106 balls and included eight fours and seven sixes.

BEN WICKHAM, Xavier College

Xavier’s standout batter who the school expects to have a big year. Wickham made an unbeaten century in round one and finished with 347 runs for the season, also playing Premier thirds for Melbourne.

RORY WRIGHT, Caulfield Grammar

Despite being a bottom-ager, there are already hopes on Wright having a strong summer for Caulfield Grammar. The seam bowler, who was also selected in Victoria Metro‘s under-16 footy side, will be a key to his side’s output with the ball.